Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
00:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Jul 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Jul 2026
General situation
A brisk westerly or northwesterly flow lies across the United Kingdom bringing strong winds in places. Some rain, drizzle or showers will affect many areas at times, more so in the north and west.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north and later in south, but becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in south. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney and smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic, mainly westerly at first, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Rattray Head. Occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate near Rattray Head. Showers. Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north and then later in south. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly, then backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south. Slight, occasionally moderate later offshore. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly, then veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near North Foreland and later in north and east. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate at first in north and east, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 or 5, backing southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest, backing west or southwest for a time, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore and moderate elsewhere. Fair. Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough near the Isles of Scilly. Occasional drizzle or showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing west, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near the Isles of Scilly, becoming smooth or slight in east. Fair. Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West veering northwest, 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Occasional drizzle or showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west, then southwest later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West, veering northwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming slight in north. Showers, then occasional rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6, backing west or southwest 3 to 5. Slight occasionally moderate. Showers, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Isle of Man - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest backing west or southwest, 4 or 5. Slight or moderate becoming slight. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Mainly slight or moderate, but occasionally rough in far north and smooth at first in south. Rain or drizzle then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable, then southwesterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in south. Slight or moderate in far north, smooth or slight elsewhere. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 or 4, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Kintyre and smooth in northeast. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later. Slight or moderate near Mull of Kintyre, smooth or slight elsewhere. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 2 to 4, veering west or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough in west and in far south, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough at first in west, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.
The Minch
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in far south, becoming westerly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight near skye, slight or moderate elsewhere. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far north. Slight or moderate in northeast and far south, smooth or slight elsewhere. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in far south, becoming westerly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate between barra and canna. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far north. Slight or moderate between barra and canna, moderate or rough elsewhere. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Slight or moderate in shelter to the east of Shetland, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far north. Showers. Good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Sunday 26 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC until Sunday 26 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation: An area of low pressure will be slow moving in the Norwegian Sea.
Forecast: West or northwest 5 or 6. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Sunday 26 Jul until 0000 UTC on Monday 27 Jul: Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in north later. Showers. Good.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: West 4 to 5, gradually veering northwest during the afternoon. Slight to moderate, locally rather rough later. Rain and drizzle spreading from the north, mainly light, perhaps with mist patches, clearing late morning. Good to moderate, perhaps locally poor, becoming good or very good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 soon after dawn, becoming variable 1 to 2 later. Slight to moderate, locally rather rough at first. Fair or fine. Good or very good.