Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure centred over the Atlantic will bring a generally northerly flow and largely settled weather over the weekend, although there will be strong winds at times across eastern and northern areas.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly backing northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first near eastern Aberdeenshire, decreasing 3 at times elsewhere. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time near Rattray Head. Drizzle or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in east, becoming variable 2 at times later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Moray Firth. Fair, then drizzle at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 in St Andrews Bay and Firth of Forth, but elsewhere northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in far north. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time except in St Andrews Bay and Firth of Forth. Drizzle or showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in far north, but elsewhere variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in Firth of Forth. Fair, then drizzle or showers in north. Good, occasionally moderate in north.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough. Showers, becoming fair later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then north 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first. Showers later. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Moderate, becoming rough in north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then north 3 or 4 later. Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate, but occasionally slight in south. Showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near northern and eastern Norfolk. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near northern and eastern Norfolk, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in far south. Slight or moderate. Showers in north. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 from Beachy Head eastwards. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in far east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in far east, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming east or northeast for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

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

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 until later in west, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate from Land's End westwards, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming north or northeast for a time, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate at first from Land's End westwards, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers at first in west. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first in east, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, veering easterly or northeasterly later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 in west but variable 2 to 4 in east. Slight or moderate at first in far west, otherwise smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate until later except in Cardigan Bay and Caernarfon Bay, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far northwest. Fair. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 at first except in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate until later in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate near the Mull of Galloway. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, veering northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in west, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 2 to 4 backing north or northwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in North Channel, decreasing 3 at times elsewhere. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later except in far north. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in North Channel. Smooth or slight at first except in far north, otherwise slight occasionally moderate. Drizzle at times later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Mainly northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in North Channel, but variable 2 to 4 in Firth of Clyde, and also later elsewhere. Slight or moderate until later in North Channel, otherwise smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in North Channel. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in North Channel. Drizzle at times later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, becoming variable 2 at times in east. Slight or moderate in west, and also in far south, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times. Slight or moderate in west and far south, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair, then occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in far south, backing westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Drizzle or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Drizzle at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in far south, backing westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight between Barra and Canna, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Drizzle or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 or 4. Smooth or slight between Barra and Canna, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Drizzle at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

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

Valid Saturday 18 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC until Sunday 19 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: An area of high pressure will persist to the west of Scotland while low pressure develops over southern Scandinavia.

Forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 4 later in west. Moderate, occasionally rough in east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Sunday 19 Jul until 1200 UTC on Sunday 19 Jul: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 decreasing 3 or 4 later and backing westerly in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east. Fair. Good.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: North to northeast 3 to 4, especially in the north of the area at first, then elsewhere by dusk, veering east for a time. Smooth to slight. Risk of mist patches in the northwest of the area tomorrow morning. Good, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 3 to 4, locally 5 in the south of the area at first, but becoming variable 1 to 2 in the north of the area from midnight. Smooth to slight. Fair. Good.