Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

During the next 24 hours a rapidly deepening area of low pressure will move eastwards across the south coast of England. This will bring gale to storm force winds across southern coastal areas of England and Wales, along with a risk of hurricane force winds briefly across the far southwest of England this evening.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 later in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth, becoming moderate or rough later in east. Wintry showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in west, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate in west, moderate or rough in east. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic mainly southeast 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming east or northeast 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, veering easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough. Showers, becoming wintry. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming easterly 5 to 7, then backing northeasterly later and increasing gale 8 at times in south. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Showers then rain. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, veering easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times. Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough. Fair then rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Rain then showers, perhaps wintry. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 except in east, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough, but high for a time in west, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry later. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in west, then decreasing 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers, perhaps wintry. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, then northwest 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate becoming very rough or high, then moderate or rough later. Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry later. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later. Rain at first in east, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, but increasing hurricane force 12 for a time at first in west, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, then becoming high or very high for a time except in east. Rain or squally showers. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later. Rough or very rough in west, mainly moderate or rough in east, but occasionally slight in Lyme Bay. Showers, squally at first. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing gale 8 to storm 10, but increasing violent storm 11 or hurricane force 12 for a time at first in far south, then becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east, becoming very rough or high for a time in west. Rain or squally showers, perhaps becoming wintry. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near Cornwall and 4 in east. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough near Cornwall and slight in east. Showers, squally at first. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4 backing north 6 to gale 8, then northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, but becoming very rough for a time in south. Rain or sleet, then squally showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west 3 to 5 for a time. Moderate or rough in south, slight or moderate in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeast 4 to 6, backing north or northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate in south. Mainly fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then east or southeast 3 to 5 later. Moderate at first in south, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 or 4 backing north or northeast 5 or 6, then northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south, backing northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first in south, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Moderate or rough until later in west, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming south or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in north, becoming variable 2 at times in south. Moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers, wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight just north and east of Skye, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in north, becoming variable 2 at times in south. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east. Showers, wintry at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate near Sutherland, and also at first between Barra and Canna, otherwise moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast, veering south later, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.

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

Valid Thursday 08 Jan 2026 at 1200 UTC until Friday 09 Jan 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: A low stays slow moving south of Iceland maintaining a freshening southeast flow as it pushes weakening troughs northeast across Shetland waters.

Forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in north. Moderate or rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 09 Jan until 1200 UTC on Friday 09 Jan: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east. Rough. Wintry showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South to southwest 6 increasing 7 to gale 8 by dusk, veering southwest to west severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 this evening, perhaps locally hurricane force 12 for a time, veering northwest and decreasing 7 by dawn. Moderate to rather rough, increasing very rough to high this evening, perhaps briefly very high in the northwest. Rain and drizzle, occasionally heavy with mist patches, clearing to squally rain or hail showers by midnight. Moderate to good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 6 to 7, decreasing 5 to 6 by morning. Very rough, decreasing, rather rough to rough. Squally rain or hail showers, locally heavy at first. Good, occasionally moderate.