Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure will move southeast across the United Kingdom and gradually fill over the next couple of days. Outbreaks of rain or showers are expected in all areas, along with strong winds in places.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic, becoming northeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in Moray Firth. Rain at times, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly backing northerly, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest and later near Rattray Head. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 to 6 at first in south, otherwise variable mainly westerly, 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and moderate later in north. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northerly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in south and rough later in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later, but rain for a time in south. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight becoming moderate. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight. Fair then rain, thundery showers later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and moderate later in north. Occasional rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in far east. Fair then rain, showers later, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic, becoming southwesterly for a time, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far east. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northerly 2 to 4 for a time in far east. Slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest, veering northwest for a time at first, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Fair then rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly for a time later in east, 3 to 5. Moderate in far west, otherwise slight occasionally moderate. Fair then rain, showers later. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough near the Isles of Scilly. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in north, increasing 6 at times later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, veering north or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate in south. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic, then north or northeast later, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Mainly slight. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, veering north or northeast 4 to 6. Slight occasionally moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate in far north, but elsewhere slight, occasionally smooth in south. Occasional rain or showers, thundery later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate in far north and smooth elsewhere. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate until later near Mull of Kintyre, otherwise slight occasionally smooth. Occasional rain or showers, thundery later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northeasterly, then backing northerly or northwesterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later, then northeasterly 4 or 5 later in north. Moderate, occasionally slight in sheltered east and rough until later elsewhere. Showers, perhaps becoming thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight east of islay and jura, but elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far northwest. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then northeast 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight until later just east and north of skye, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth just east of skye. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeast 5 or 6 later. Mainly slight or moderate near Sutherland, otherwise moderate or rough. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally rough to the west and north of the Outer Hebrides. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight at first, becoming moderate or rough later in north. Occasional rain at first in south, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Valid Tuesday 18 Aug 2026 at 1800 UTC until Wednesday 19 Aug 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Low pressure to the west of Scotland will drift slowly south, with associated fronts just to the south of Shetland Waters clearing south overnight.

Forecast: East or northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in east. Moderate, but slight just south of shetland. Rain until later in far south, otherwise mainly fair, showers later in north Good, occasionally moderate in far south.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Wednesday 19 Aug until 1800 UTC on Wednesday 19 Aug: Northeasterly backing northerly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first in south. Moderate, but slight at first just south of shetland, becoming rough later in the north. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 to 5, locally 6 at first, decreasing 3 to 4 by midnight, backing southwest by late morning, locally 2 in the south of the area, veering west to northwest 4 to 5 by evening. Slight, locally moderate today, a low swell developing tomorrow. Patchy drizzle or mist, clearing southwards by dusk rain, in the far north by dawn, spreading southwards and becoming locally heavy, clearing to isolated showers later. Good, locally moderate to poor until late afternoon tomorrow.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 4 to 5 by dusk, backing west to southwest by dawn, perhaps locally 6 later. Slight with a low swell, increasing moderate overnight, locally rather rough later. Isolated showers, becoming more widespread by dawn Thursday. Good, locally moderate at times later.