Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A weakening cold front will move southeastwards across the United Kingdom during the next 24 hours. This will bring an interval of rain to many areas, although the south will remain mostly dry. At the same time an area of high pressure will encroach from the west.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and 3 in south. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough at first to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in south. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate near Rattray Head. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 3 or less becoming easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4. Moderate at first near Rattray Head, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers at first in north, otherwise fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4 veering west or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Rain then mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 or 3 becoming southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 or 4 veering southeast 2 or 3, then increasing 4 or 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate in north. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming northwesterly for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeasterly 3 to 5, veering easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 then veering northwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less again later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth becoming slight. Fair. Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming southwest 4 or 5 then veering northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less again later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest 3 or 4 for a time at first, then becoming east 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming west 3 to 5 then veering northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less again later. Smooth or slight in east, but in west, slight, occasionally moderate later near the Isles of Scilly. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3, becoming west or northwest 4 or 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 later in north. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering north 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and 2 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first in north. Good, occasionally moderate at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North veering east or northeast, 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4 veering north or northwest 4 or 5, backing west or northwest 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest veering northeast, then east or southeast later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4 veering northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, then fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 or 3 becoming variable 3 or less, then east or southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4 veering north or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far north. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: West veering northwest, 2 to 4. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of Islay and Jura. Rain at first in south, otherwise showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 or 3 becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering northwesterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 2 or less later in south. Slight or moderate in north, and also at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 at first in far north, otherwise variable 3 or less becoming easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, veering southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Mainly fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in far north, veering northwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less later in south. Moderate or rough until later in far north and to the west of the Outer Hebrides, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 at first in far north, otherwise variable 3 or less becoming easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, veering southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight between Barra and Canna. Mainly fair then occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time in west and north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland

Valid Sunday 09 Aug 2026 at 1200 UTC until Monday 10 Aug 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Low pressure centred near the Faroe Islands moves eastwards on Sunday, with a strong and showery airflow across Shetland Waters. High pressure builds from the west through Monday.

Forecast: Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest. Rough, occasionally moderate in southeast. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Monday 10 Aug until 1200 UTC on Monday 10 Aug: Northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first. Mainly rough, but very rough at first in north and occasionally moderate in lee shelter of Shetland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 by evening, decreasing 2 to 4 towards dawn. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northwest 2 to 4, veering northeast to east by dawn, perhaps locally 5 mid-channel later. Smooth or slight. Risk of mist patches near the French coast for a time overnight. Good, perhaps locally moderate overnight.