Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of high pressure currently centred over the North Sea will move away northeastwards on Monday. There will be a strong locally near gale force east to northeasterly airflow over the English Channel, and conditions will gradually turn more unsettled across southern areas.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first, then becoming southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming east or southeast 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 2 or 3 backing east 3 or 4. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in far south. Showers for a time. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first in south, otherwise southerly 2 or 3 backing easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast 3 or 4 backing east 4 or 5. Slight, becoming moderate later. Showers for a time. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming easterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in south. Slight. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East 4 or 5. Slight becoming moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3 at first in north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers for a time. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later. Slight or moderate. Showers later, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first in west, then increasing 6 at times. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first from Beachy Head eastwards. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Rain or showers developing, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first close inshore, increasing 7 at times later further offshore. Slight becoming moderate, then occasionally rough later except close inshore. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 to 6 veering east 3 to 5, then veering southeast later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Rain or showers developing, becoming thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later from Start Point westwards. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Fair then showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Rain or showers, becoming thundery. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming east or northeast 4 to 6, then decreasing 3 or 4 later near Cornwall. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Mainly fair then rain or showers, becoming thundery. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: East or northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far north but becoming variable 2 at times later elsewhere. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in far north. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5 except in Solway Firth. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first in north, backing northeasterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming east or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 4 or 5 backing east or northeast 3 or 4, then increasing 4 to 6 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in south. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in south, backing easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in North Channel. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4 in North Channel, and later also elsewhere. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, backing easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in south. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later to the south and west of Islay. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of Islay and Jura. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of Islay and Jura. Mainly fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then east 2 or 3 later. Mainly smooth or slight, but moderate until later in far north. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then east or northeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: South or southwest backing southeast, 2 to 4, then becoming variable 3 or less for a time later. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight at first between Barra and Canna, and then later near Sutherland. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in far south, becoming variable 3 or less, then easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight near Sutherland. Mainly fair. Good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southwest backing south, then southeast later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in north, west and south but smooth or slight in east. Fair. Good.

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

Valid Monday 24 Aug 2026 at 0000 UTC until Monday 24 Aug 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A ridge of high pressure covers Shetland Waters

Forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4 Slight or moderate Fair Good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Monday 24 Aug until 0000 UTC on Tuesday 25 Aug: South or southeast 2 to 4 Slight or moderate Fair Good

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 5 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 in the south of the area after midday. Slight to moderate, locally rather rough to rough mid-channel at times. Isolated showers in the far south by late afternoon, spreading north. Good, perhaps locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 to 4, occasionally 5 in the north of the area at first, veering southeast after midday Tuesday, further veering southwest to west later. Slight to moderate, decreasing smooth or slight, with a developing low swell. Rain or showers, with a risk of thunder. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.