Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Atlantic fronts will move eastwards across the United Kingdom on Wednesday, during which a west to southwesterly airflow will gradually become established. Most places will have outbreaks of rain.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 then easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, then veering southwesterly later and increasing 6 at times in north. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5 backing south or southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere mainly slight or moderate, but occasionally rough later in north. Showers, becoming squally later in northwest. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming east or southeast 2 to 4, veering southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Rattray Head. Rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Rattray Head. Fair then rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first in north, otherwise southwesterly backing southeasterly 3 or 4, veering southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Rain at times, then showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later in south. Rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate except in Thames Estuary and The Wash. Rain or showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time, then occasionally 7 later. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first in Thames Estuary and The Wash. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in west. Slight becoming moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in west, increasing 7 at times later in east. Moderate. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4 increasing 4 to 6. Slight becoming moderate, then occasionally slight again later in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 4 at first close inshore, increasing 7 at times later. Moderate, becoming slight at times in west. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later. Slight or moderate in east, moderate throughout in west. Showers, then rain or drizzle at times later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and 6 later. Slight or moderate in east, but in west, moderate, becoming rough later near the Isles of Scilly. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South veering west or southwest, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near St David's Head. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West at first in Bristol Channel, otherwise southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, then veering northwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east but becoming rough later in west. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: South veering southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first, then increasing 6 at times. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first to the east of Anglesey and rough near St David's Head. Rain, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later, then veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Southwest, backing southeast for a time at first, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in south, becoming moderate later. Rain, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 for a time later in far south but variable 2 to 4 for a time later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4 backing southeast 4 or 5, then veering west or southwest later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Rain at times, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north, but decreasing 3 for a time later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming south or southeast 3 to 5, then veering southwest later. Slight, occasionally moderate in far north and later also in south. Rain then showers, perhaps thundery, becoming fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in far north. Showers, then rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, then veering westerly or southwesterly later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later near the Mull of Galloway. Rain at times, becoming mainly fair later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate. Mainly fair then rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north, then veering westerly or southwesterly later. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of Islay and Jura. Rain, then showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in south and 6 in north, then increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then becoming very rough later near western Tiree. Mainly fair then rain or showers, becoming squally. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 4 to 6, then veering southwest later. Slight or moderate in north, and later also in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east and rough later in west. Mainly fair then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or southeast 4 to 6, then veering southwest later. Rough at first in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later to the west of the Outer Hebrides. Mainly fair then squally showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later. Rough or very rough at first in north and west, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming slight or moderate in east. Showers then fair, then rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

Valid Wednesday 02 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC until Wednesday 02 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: A low over the Norwegian Sea will fill during Wednesday. An Atlantic low will then push its associated weather fronts in from the west on Thursday.

Forecast: West or northwest 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5. Rough or very rough, but moderate in sheltered waters east of Shetland. Showers. Mainly good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Wednesday 02 Sep until 0600 UTC on Thursday 03 Sep: West or northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough. Fair then rain. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 4, occasionally 2 in the southeast at first, increasing 4 to 5 by midday, perhaps locally 6 mid-channel this afternoon and evening. Smooth to slight, increasing slight to moderate from midday, occasionally rather rough mid-channel this afternoon and evening. A risk of patchy light rain from midday, mainly in the north of the area. Good, perhaps locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 2 to 3 in the south of the area from midday, perhaps occasionally 6 mid-channel later. Slight to moderate, perhaps occasionally rather rough mid-channel. Patchy rain or drizzle, especially in the north of the area, with a risk of mist patches. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.