Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
18:00 (UTC) on Thu 13 Aug 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Fri 14 Aug 2026
General situation
The United Kingdom lies in a slack and humid airmass, while a cold front brings thundery showers and fog patches across the northwest. During Friday, this front will weaken as it moves southeast, which allows a fresher northwesterly flow to become established across the north and west.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 west of Orkney. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate west of Orkney. Thundery showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate west of Orkney. Showers. Good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 4 or 5 later in south. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, but becoming westerly 4 or 5 at times in south. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 to 5, veering west or northwest, then becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers later in south. Good, occasionally poor later in south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers at first in south. Good, occasionally poor at first in south.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly, becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, increasing 5 at times later. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth, occasionally slight in west. Thundery showers later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth, occasionally slight. Thundery showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming west or northwest, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4, veering north 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: Variable becoming westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in southwest. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far west. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Fair. Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times in the inner Bristol Channel. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Showers later. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West veering north 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Showers at first. Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel
24 hour forecast: South or southwest, veering north later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fog patches, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth, occasionally slight. Fog patches, showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 at times in shelter. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Slight. Fair. Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 except in far south. Smooth, occasionally slight. Thundery showers, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times in north and east. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in far north. Showers. Good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming northwesterly 2 to 4 later, occasionally 5 later in the North Channel. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in the North Channel. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming west or northwest, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, but smooth in shelter. Thundery showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth in shelter. Showers. Good.
The Minch
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far south. Thundery showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far south. Showers. Good.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath
24 hour forecast: South or southwest, veering west, 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times later. Moderate, occasionally slight. Thundery showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5. Moderate, occasionally slight. Showers. Good.
Shetland Isles
24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly southwest, veering west later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Rain or thundery showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Thursday 13 Aug 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 14 Aug 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation: A showery southerly becoming westerly airflow will continue to affect Shetland Waters.
Forecast: Southwesterly or variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers, fog patches. Isolated thunderstorms Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 14 Aug until 1800 UTC on Friday 14 Aug: Variable becoming westerly 2 to 4 Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: Locally variable 1 to 2 in the north at first, otherwise west to northwest 2 to 4, perhaps occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight, with a low swell. Mist or fog patches developing after midnight, clearing late morning. Good or very good, locally poor or very poor after midnight.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 4, veering northerly 4 to 5 after midnight, locally 3 later. Smooth or slight, with a low swell. Risk of mist or fog patches after midnight. Good or very good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.