Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
18:00 (UTC) on Fri 14 Aug 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Sat 15 Aug 2026
General situation
A slack and very warm airmass continues to lie across southern and eastern waters this evening where some isolated thunderstorms are possible. A fresher northerly flow will follow a cold front southeastwards to all parts tomorrow, as a ridge of high pressure builds to the southwest.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
24 hour forecast: West 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Showers. Good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming west or southwest, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, becoming variable at times, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming northwest for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming west or northwest for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northwest, veering northeast later, 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Variable becoming northerly or northeasterly, 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times later in south. Smooth, occasionally slight later. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in south, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west. Smooth, occasionally slight. Thundery showers for a time. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable at first in west, otherwise northerly or northeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in east, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: Southwest 2 to 4, veering north 4 or 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: Northwest veering north, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far west. Showers in far west. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate at first in far west. Fair. Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: West veering north or northwest, 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Smooth or slight, but moderate in southwest. Mainly fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time. Smooth or slight, but moderate at first in southwest. Fair. Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel
24 hour forecast: North or northwest 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times later. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then backing southwest 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing west or southwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 or 4. Mainly slight. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less at times in far south. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest becoming variable, then south later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far north. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times in the North Channel. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point
24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth in shelter. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 2 to 4 later, then backing south or southeast 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth in shelter. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
The Minch
24 hour forecast: West 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far south. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest, then backing south later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far south. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath
24 hour forecast: West 4 or 5. Moderate, occasionally slight near Ardnamurchan Point. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 or 5, backing southwesterly, then backing southerly or southeasterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in south. Moderate, occasionally slight near Ardnamurchan Point. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Shetland Isles
24 hour forecast: West veering northwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Friday 14 Aug 2026 at 1800 UTC until Saturday 15 Aug 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation: A showery westerly airflow will continue to affect Shetland Waters.
Forecast: West 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth in sheltered waters east of shetland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Saturday 15 Aug until 1800 UTC on Saturday 15 Aug: West or northwest 4 or 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth in sheltered waters east of shetland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 4, occasionally variable 1 to 3 overnight, veering north to northwest 4 to 5 by mid-morning Saturday, occasionally 3 in mid-channel later. Smooth or slight, with a low swell at times. Risk of mist or fog patches, mainly in the west. Good or very good, locally poor or very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northwest 3 to 4, locally 5 at first, veering northeast to east 2 to 4 by Sunday morning, backing north to northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, with a low swell. Risk of mist patches overnight. Good or very good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.