Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure centred close to the southwest of the British Isles will bring a good deal of fine and settled weather to southern waters, whilst further north conditions will be more unsettled as a westerly flow brings Atlantic fronts and outbreaks of rain or drizzle at times.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in northwest, smooth or slight in southeast. Showers, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 or 3, becoming southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight until later in southeast, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 4 or 5 later except in far north. Smooth or slight. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 6, veering northwest 2 to 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: West 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far northeast. Showers in north. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly, then cyclonic later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering northwesterly 3 or 4 for a time. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near North Foreland. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in east, then becoming smooth at times. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

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

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fog patches in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in the inner Bristol Channel, decreasing 2 or 3 in south. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly, 2 or 3 in south but 3 to 5 in north. Slight, occasionally moderate near St Davids Head. Fog patches in south. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Occasional drizzle in north. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in north. Slight, occasionally moderate near St Davids Head and smooth in northeast. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in south. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5. Slight occasionally smooth. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in east. Slight occasionally moderate. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight occasionally moderate. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in far north, but smooth or slight elsewhere. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in far north, but smooth or slight elsewhere. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, decreasing 2 at times later. Moderate at first near Mull of Kintyre, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 until later in north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east and rough at first in west. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or poor, occasionally good in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly backing southerly or southwesterly, then becoming variable later in north, 2 to 4, increasing 5 later in far south. Slight or moderate near southern entrance, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight at first except near southern entrance, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly backing southerly or southwesterly, then becoming variable later in north, 2 to 4, increasing 5 later in far south. Moderate, occasionally slight in north and rough at first in far southwest. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain or drizzle. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing west or southwest later, occasionally 5 later. Mainly slight in shelter to the east of Shetland, otherwise moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

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

Valid Saturday 04 Jul 2026 at 1800 UTC until Sunday 05 Jul 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Ridge of high pressure will build across Shetland Waters from the west

Forecast: Northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 later in west Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north. smooth or slight east of shetland. Fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Sunday 05 Jul until 1800 UTC on Sunday 05 Jul: Northwesterly backing southwesterly or westerly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in north Moderate, but slight in southeast Mainly fair Good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 3 to 4, veering northwest to north 2 to 3 by dawn, backing westerly 3 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Risk of mist or fog patches, mainly Sunday morning. Good or very good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 3 to 4, backing west to southwest 2 to 3 overnight, becoming variable 1 to 2 by midday, then becoming northwest 2 to 3 later. Smooth or slight. Risk of mist or fog patches. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.