Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
18:00 (UTC) on Wed 1 Jul 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 2 Jul 2026
General situation
An area of low pressure will pass close to the north of Scotland during this evening and tonight bringing rain and drizzle and strengthening winds. A period of gales will affect northern waters overnight and into Thursday before high pressure builds from the southwest with winds easing.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southeast veering southwest 4 to 6, then veering northwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 5 to 7 backing southwest 3 or 4. Moderate or rough, becoming smooth or slight in southeast. Showers. Good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South veering west or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Rattray Head. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 or 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South veering west or northwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time. Smooth becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6 backing southwest 3 or 4. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5 veering west 5 to 7, veering northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5 backing southwest 3 or 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in the wash. Fair. Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth becoming slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Fair. Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 for a time, veering northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 for a time, veering northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming fair later. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight east of the Lizard peninsula. Fair. Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough in far west, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel. Fair, then rain or drizzle for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel. Fair. Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering northwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later in southwest. Fair, then rain or drizzle for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest veering northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in east. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Isle of Man - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southwest veering west or northwest, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight, becoming mainly moderate for a time. Occasional rain or drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair. Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly veering westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, veering northwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 or 5 backing southwest 3 or 4. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first in far northwest. Showers. Good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly veering westerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, veering northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Kintyre. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly backing southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde. Showers. Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South veering northwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, backing west 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in north, backing westerly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near entrances. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in north, backing westerly 4 to 6 later. Rough, becoming very rough for a time in south. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest 4 to 6. Rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South 3 or 4 becoming cyclonic 4 or 5, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Wednesday 01 Jul 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 02 Jul 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation: An area of low pressure moves east over Shetland Waters on Wednesday night with a ridge developing later Thursday.
Forecast: Southeast 3 or 4 becoming cyclonic 4 or 5. Slight but smooth just east of shetland, becoming slight or moderate. Mist patches then rain, occasionally heavy, later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 02 Jul until 1800 UTC on Thursday 02 Jul: Cyclonic 4 or 5 becoming northwest 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough, but moderate in shelter just east of shetland. Rain, occasionally heavy at first. Good or moderate, occasionally poor.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: West to northwest 4 to 5. Slight to moderate. Patchy rain or drizzle with mist spreading eastwards after midnight, with a risk of fog patches by dawn, clearing by mid-afternoon. Good or very good, becoming moderate to poor later, perhaps locally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 4 to 5, veering north to northeast 3 to 4 by dawn on Friday, decreasing 2 to 3 by midday, backing north to northwest 2 to 4 by evening. Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth or slight with a low swell later. Fair or fine. Good or very good.