Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A cold front will move southeastwards across the United Kingdom during the course of Thursday. This will bring an interval of rain to most areas and introduce a colder west to northwesterly airflow, with showers in the west and north.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest 3 to 5, veering west 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Occasional rain, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4 then southeast 5 or 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, and also at first near Aberdeenshire, otherwise moderate or rough occasionally very rough. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5 veering west or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 or 3 then southeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later in north. Showers then fair, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 2 to 4 veering west 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less then southeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Mainly fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 or 3 veering west or northwest 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate later in north. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less then southeast 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight, becoming moderate later. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 2 or 3 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later near northeastern Norfolk. Occasional rain for a time. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less then southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near northeastern Norfolk, becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or less becoming southwesterly 3 to 5, then veering northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Occasional rain for a time. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming easterly 3 or 4, veering southeasterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming northwest 4 to 6 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming southeast 4 or 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, occasionally variable 2 at first, then increasing 4 to 6, veering east or southeast 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in east but becoming rough in west. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 2 to 4 veering south or southeast 4 to 6, then veering west or southwest later. Smooth at first in Lyme Bay, otherwise slight or moderate in east and mainly rough in west, but very rough later in far west. Rain at times later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4 veering west or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west. Occasional rain at first, showers later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming southeast 5 to 7, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east and very rough later in west. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5 veering west or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, then showers for a time. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming south 4 or 5, then backing southeast 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Fair, then rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5 veering west or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate for a time. Occasional rain or drizzle, then showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 or 3 backing south or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in south but moderate or rough in north. Fair, then rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5 veering west 5 to 7, backing southwest 2 to 4 later. Slight, becoming moderate for a time. Occasional rain or drizzle at first, with fog patches, then showers. Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 2 to 4 backing southeast 6 to gale 8, veering south or southwest 5 or 6 later. Slight, becoming moderate or rough. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, veering west 5 to 7 for a time. In far north, moderate becoming rough, but elsewhere, smooth or slight, becoming moderate for a time. Occasional rain, then showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 or 4 backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in North Channel, then veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight at first except in far north, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 or 4, veering westerly 5 to 7 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate except in far north and occasionally rough near the Mull of Kintyre. Occasional rain or drizzle, then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 or 4 backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in North Channel, then veering southerly 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Showers then rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5 veering west 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east but becoming very rough in west. Occasional rain or drizzle, then squally showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4 backing southeast 7 to severe gale 9, veering south 5 or 6 later. Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight just east and north of Skye, elsewhere slight or moderate, but occasionally rough in far north. Squally showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5 backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south and west, then veering southerly 4 to 6 later in south. Smooth or slight at first just east and north of Skye, otherwise slight or moderate, but becoming rough or very rough later in west and south. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6 veering west 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough except near Sutherland. Squally showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5 backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south and west, then veering southerly 4 to 6 later in south. Moderate or rough near Sutherland, but elsewhere rough or very rough, occasionally high later. Showers then rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 6 veering southwest 3 or 4, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Valid Thursday 09 Apr 2026 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 09 Apr 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Cold front will slowly move east across Shetland Waters followed by a showery south or southwesterly flow.

Forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, but 7 at first in far east, decreasing 3 in southeast Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north at first and far west later Rain then showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 09 Apr until 0600 UTC on Friday 10 Apr: South or southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest later Rough or very rough, but moderate east of Shetland and in far south Showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 2 to 3, increasing 4 to 5 by midday, occasionally 6 mid-channel Thursday afternoon, veering northeast 3 to 4 around midnight. Smooth or slight with a low swell, increasing slight to moderate from late afternoon until midnight. Mist and fog patches, clearing by afternoon. Moderate or good, locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to southeast 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 by dusk Friday, veering south to southwest 3 to 4 later. Smooth to slight, with a low swell. Fair. Good.