Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
06:00 (UTC) on Mon 21 Sep 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Tue 22 Sep 2026
General situation
A ridge of high pressure will maintain relative light winds across the coastal waters, except in the far north and northwest. Decaying frontal troughs will cause some rain and drizzle at times in the north and west, with fog patches possible in the southwest.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in south and 6 in northwest. To the west and north of Orkney, moderate or rough, elsewhere slight or moderate, but smooth in Moray Firth. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4. To the west and north of Orkney, moderate or rough, elsewhere smooth or slight. Rain, then thundery showers. Moderate or good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in south. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first offshore in north. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then mainly northerly or northeasterly later. Smooth or slight. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 2 later. Smooth or slight. Rain at times in north. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain at times in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in north.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore. Mainly fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest occasionally variable, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore. Mainly fair. Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate at first near northeastern Norfolk, otherwise smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming easterly or southeasterly 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate west of Lizard Point, elsewhere smooth or slight. Drizzle or fog patches until later in west. Good, occasionally very poor until later in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate west of Lizard Point, elsewhere smooth or slight. Drizzle or fog patches later in west. Good, occasionally very poor later in west.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Moderate at first in south, otherwise slight, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel. Fair, but drizzle or fog patches for a time in south. Good, occasionally very poor for a time in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest 2 or 3. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate except in Bristol Channel. Fair. Moderate or good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Drizzle or fog patches at first, then fair. Good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Smooth or slight. Fair, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or northwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: South or southwest, 3 or 4. Slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest veering west later, 3 or 4. Slight. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Slight or moderate in north, but smooth or slight in east. Rain or drizzle at first, then fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then north or northwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in north, but smooth or slight in east. Rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Mull of Kintyre. Rain or drizzle for a time. Good, occasionally poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 2 for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Mull of Kintyre. Rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time in north. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight in east. Occasional rain or drizzle, mainly fair for a time. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then westerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough in west and slight in east. Rain at first, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances, but smooth or slight just north and east of skye. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, 3 or 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in south entrance, becoming smooth or slight in central areas. Showers. Moderate or good.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time. Moderate or rough. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, 3 or 4. Moderate or rough. Showers. Moderate or good.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 4 to 6,. Moderate or rough. Mainly fair at first, then rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning
Valid Monday 21 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC until Monday 21 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC
General situation: A ridge clears Shetland Waters Monday morning as low pressure in the Denmark Strait extends Atlantic troughs and a strengthening southwesterly flow over Shetland Waters from Monday afternoon.
Forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4, backing south 5 or 6. Moderate or rough. Mainly fair at first, then rain and drizzle. Good, locally poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Monday 21 Sep until 0600 UTC on Tuesday 22 Sep: South 5 or 6, veering southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate, locally poor.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming northerly 2 to 4 in the afternoon, then veering northeast to east later. Smooth, locally slight at times, with a low swell. Fair or fine. Good or very good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 2 to 3, backing northeast to north 3 to 4 by mid-afternoon, veering east later, becoming variable 1 to 3 towards dawn. Smooth, locally slight at times, with a low swell. Fine. Good or very good.