Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
00:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Jul 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Thu 30 Jul 2026
General situation
A variable mainly southwesterly flow will gradually veer northwesterly across the United Kingdom during the next couple of days as weakening Atlantic fronts move southeastwards across the country.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first near Cape Wrath and northwestern Orkney, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in south, mainly slight or moderate in north, but occasionally rough at first to the west and north of Orkney. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate in north, mainly smooth or slight in south, but becoming moderate later near Aberdeenshire. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, occasionally thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise southwesterly 3 to 5, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north. Mainly fair then showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 or 3, becoming west or northwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate in north.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: Southwest becoming variable, then west or northwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming northwest 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Southerly 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight later. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 2 to 4 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming southwest 4 or 5, veering northwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight later. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in east. Showers for a time. Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 except in far west, then veering northwesterly later. Smooth or slight in east, slight throughout in west. Showers later in west. Good, occasionally moderate later in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in east. Smooth or slight in east, slight throughout in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming west or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 for a time later in Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary, then veering west or northwest later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east, and moderate later near Pembrokeshire. Fair then showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in west. Showers at first. Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate at first near northwestern Anglesey, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming west or northwest, 2 to 4, then backing southwest 3 or 4 for a time later. Slight in south, smooth or slight in north. Showers at first. Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first in north.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5 decreasing 3 or 4, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Occasional rain for a time later. Good, occasionally moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 2 to 4, increasing 4 or 5 for a time, then becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Fair. Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: Variable, but mainly southwest at first, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except in far north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or southwest 3 or 4, then veering northwest 3 to 5 for a time. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable, but mainly southwesterly at first, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate at first in North Channel, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming westerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, then veering westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers, perhaps thundery for a time in far north. Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in north, then veering northwesterly 2 or 3 for a time in south. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of Islay and Jura. Rain at times, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, veering west or northwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight to the east of Islay and Jura, and also later in north, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except in far north. Rain at first in far south, otherwise showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 then northwest 2 to 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 then northwest 2 to 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: South or southwest, veering west or southwest later, 4 to 6. Moderate or rough in north, west and south but slight or moderate in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Wednesday 29 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC until Wednesday 29 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation: Atlantic low pressure will track northeast across Faroes
Forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Wednesday 29 Jul until 0000 UTC on Thursday 30 Jul: Southwest 5 to 7 veering west 4 or 5. Moderate or rough. Occasional showers. Good.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: North to northeast 2 to 3, locally variable 1 to 2, generally becoming west to southwest 2 to 3 around dawn, veering west to northwest 3 to 4 during the afternoon, locally 5 mid-channel for a time. Smooth or slight. Mist and fog patches, clearing after mid-morning tomorrow. Good, locally poor or very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 3 to 4, occasionally 2 after dawn Thursday, veering northerly later. Smooth or slight. Risk of mist patches near French coasts until around dawn. Good, perhaps locally poor.