Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

The United Kingdom will lie in a northwesterly airflow for much of Thursday, although a ridge of high pressure will move in from the west later in the day. Showers will continue in most areas, although many southern parts will remain dry.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest. Showers, then rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate, but rough in northwest. Rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Firth of Forth. Showers, rain later in north. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Firth of Forth. Occasional rain, mainly in north. Good, occasionally moderate in north.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Showers at first. Mainly good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Showers for a time in north. Good.

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

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly or northeasterly becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first, becoming southeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: West or southwest veering north or northwest, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first, becoming southeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first mainly in west. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first, becoming east or southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later, becoming westerly 4 for a time in north. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing west or southwest, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 until later in north. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Fair, occasionally rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5. Mainly slight. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming south or southwest later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north. Showers mainly in north, ran later in north. Good, occasionally moderate in north.

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

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

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, but moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west. Showers, then rain and showers later. Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6. Moderate or rough but smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers then rain and showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and south. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Showers then rain and showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time later in west. Rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, backing southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in southeast. Mainly fair, rain and showers later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

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

Valid Thursday 06 Aug 2026 at 1200 UTC until Friday 07 Aug 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Ridge of high pressure across Shetland Waters declines and the southwesterly flow strengthens on Friday.

Forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east at first. backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate, but rough in far southeast at first. becoming occasionally slight close to, and southwest of, shetland. Mainly fair Mainly good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Friday 07 Aug until 1200 UTC on Friday 07 Aug: Southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 soon. Moderate, occasionally slight at first. Showers then rain Good occasionally moderate or poor.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 4, locally 2 at times, veering northerly 2 to 3 overnight, becoming locally variable to the south of jersey. Slight, decreasing mainly smooth, with a low and diminishing swell. Fair or fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 2 to 3, increasing 4 in the south of the area in the afternoon, generally veering east 3 to 4 overnight, veering southeast later. Smooth, locally slight at times. Fair or fine. Good or very good.