Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A colder and showery northwesterly flow will prevail through Wednesday. Gale force winds will affect many areas at first but winds will decrease later as a transient ridge of high pressure builds into Wednesday night. A frontal system will carry rain across western and northern areas on Thursday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and east, decreasing 4 at times in Moray Firth. To the west and north of Orkney, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally slight in Moray Firth. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, decreasing 3 or 4, then southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. To the west and north of Orkney, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near Rattray Head. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in northeast. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast, decreasing 2 to 4, then backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northeast. Squally wintry showers until later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 or 6, increasing 7 at times. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Squally showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming moderate. Wintry showers at first. Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 5 or 6, increasing 7 at times. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in north. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Squally showers, perhaps wintry. Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 until later, decreasing 4 at times later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in northeast. Squally rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast, and smooth later at times in Thames estuary. Showers, wintry later. Good, occasionally poor later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly veering northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Squally rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate , occasionally smooth later. Showers, squally at first. Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Showers, squally at first. Moderate or good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Very rough or rough, occasionally high at first in west, becoming rough later, elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing southwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 for a time. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in west, occasionally smooth later in lyme bay. Showers at first, rain later. Moderate or good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time in southwest, and moderate at times in east, becoming moderate or rough later. Squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing southwest 3 to 5. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering north 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in far south, becoming slight or moderate. Squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west 3 or 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth east of Anglesey. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Squally showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west 3 or 4, then southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth for a time. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4, then backing southwest, increasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later in north, otherwise moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate in north, elsewhere slight, occasionally smooth. Showers, rain for time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in North Channel, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first in North Channel. Squally wintry showers. Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5, veering westerly or northwesterly later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Clyde. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 6 to gale 8, veering north 5 to 7, then backing northwest 3 or 4 later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, and moderate in sheltered east. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6, then veering west later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west, slight at times in sheltered east. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, mainly in south, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate in central areas, rough or very rough near entrances. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 5 to 7, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in central areas, occasionally smooth east and south of skye. Rain, then wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, mainly in south, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Very rough, occasionally high until later. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 5 to 7, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later. Rough or very rough. Rain, then wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 7 or gale 8, occasionally 6 later. Very rough or high, but moderate or rough in shelter east of Shetland. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning

Valid Wednesday 25 Mar 2026 at 0600 UTC until Wednesday 25 Mar 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Showery strong to gale force southwesterly flow will veer northwesterly later in the day.

Forecast: Northwest 7 or gale 8 Very rough or high. moderate or rough in lee shelter near east coast of shetland. Squally wintry showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Wednesday 25 Mar until 0600 UTC on Thursday 26 Mar: Northwest 7 or gale 8 veering north 6 or 7 later. Very rough or high. moderate or rough in lee shelter near east coast of shetland. Squally wintry showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 7 to gale 8, perhaps with gusts to 50kt, decreasing 6 to 7 by midday, then decreasing 5 to 6 by midnight. Rough to very rough, decreasing rather rough to rough by midnight. Squally showers, locally heavy with a risk of hail. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 Thursday morning, veering northerly 3 to 4 by dusk, backing westerly 2 to 3 later. Rather rough to rough at first, decreasing slight to moderate with a low swell by midday, further decreasing smooth or slight later. Isolated showers until midday patchy rain and drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.