Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure centred over the Atlantic will bring a generally light to moderate northerly flow to the inshore waters, but winds will increase for some northern and eastern waters. The weather will continue mainly fair in most areas, although isolated showers may develop at times mainly for northeastern parts.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Rattray Head. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate except in Moray Firth. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Rattray Head, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in Moray Firth. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Rattray Head. Fair. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 near Rattray Head, but mainly variable 2 to 4 in southwest. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Rattray Head and near Berwick upon Tweed. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in north, increasing 6 at times later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate, becoming rough at times. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and 6 later. Slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 to 6. Moderate, becoming rough at times in north. Showers at first. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 throughout in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north. Fair then showers in north. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly at first in south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers at first in north. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate near North Foreland. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering northwest, then northeast later, 3 to 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later in east. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly northerly 3 to 5 until later in west, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate west of land's end. Fair. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later in east. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and moderate later in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 4 or 5 until later in west, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 for a time later. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later near Anglesey. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in north. Fair. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic, becoming mainly northwesterly for a time, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later except in far west. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Mull of Galloway. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first except in far west, otherwise northerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Galloway. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, veering north or northeast 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight until later in far south, otherwise slight or moderate. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in northeast, veering northeasterly 2 to 4 later in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in far south, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in North Channel. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in North Channel. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in North Channel, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northeast. Slight or moderate until later in North Channel, but elsewhere mainly smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Fair. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south. Slight, occasionally smooth in central areas and moderate near entrances. Fair then showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, backing northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south. Slight or moderate. Fair then showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, backing northwesterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

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

Valid Friday 17 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC until Saturday 18 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: North or northwest 3 to 5. Slight becoming moderate later in east. Fair. Good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Saturday 18 Jul until 1200 UTC on Saturday 18 Jul: North or northwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6. Slight or moderate, becoming mainly moderate later. Fair. Good.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northwest or variable 2 to 3, locally 4, becoming northeast north of jersey Saturday afternoon. Smooth, locally slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 3 in the south of the area at first, becoming generally northeast by evening, occasionally 4. Smooth or slight. A risk of mist patches in the north and west. Good, perhaps locally moderate to poor.