Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
06:00 (UTC) on Sun 30 Aug 2026 to 06:00 (UTC) on Mon 31 Aug 2026
General situation
A complex area of low pressure will move northeast across the United Kingdom through Sunday, before slowly clearing across the northern North Sea Monday, with high pressure becoming established over France into Tuesday. Strong winds developing across southern areas Sunday which extend to the north Monday, with rain and showers at times, some of which may become heavy and thundery.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
24 hour forecast: Easterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north. Slight occasionally moderate. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north. Slight, occasionally moderate in north. Showers, heavy later. Good, occasionally moderate and later poor.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Variable becoming cyclonic later 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far north. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming west 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 2 to 4, then cyclonic later. Slight. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming west 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers. Mainly good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: West backing south for a time, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in south. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate and later poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in south and moderate later in north. Mainly fair. Mainly good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in north and 7 later in south. Slight or moderate, but smooth in the Thames estuary and the wash, and rough at first near North Foreland. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate and later poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south, veering westerly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth in the Thames estuary and the wash, and occasionally rough later near North Foreland. Showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in the solent. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in lyme bay and very rough later around the Isles of Scilly. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in lyme bay and very rough at first around the Isles of Scilly. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west or northwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far south. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 5 or 6, backing west or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far south. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: West or southwest, 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: South or southwest, veering west or northwest later, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Good occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest, backing southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwesterly later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later, occasionally rough later in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northwesterly later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north, becoming westerly 4 to 6 later in south. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 or 4 at first in north, otherwise westerly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north and later in far south. Rain or showers. Good occasionally moderate or poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in north, becoming westerly 4 to 6 later in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 or 4 at first in north, otherwise westerly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain or showers. Good occasionally moderate or poor.
Shetland Isles
24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly veering easterly later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in west. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain at first. Good occasionally moderate at first.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Sunday 30 Aug 2026 at 0600 UTC until Sunday 30 Aug 2026 at 1800 UTC
General situation: A ridge of high pressure will build over Shetland Waters from the northwest.
Forecast: North or northeast 3 or 4 Slight or moderate Occasional rain Moderate or good
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Sunday 30 Aug until 0600 UTC on Monday 31 Aug: Northeasterly veering easterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in west Slight or moderate Fair Good
Channel Islands - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 5 locally 3, increasing 5 to 6 locally 4 by late evening, further increasing 6 to 7 for a time overnight. Slight to moderate with a low swell, gradually increasing rather rough to rough. Isolated showers, becoming more widespread and locally heavy at times, with a risk of thunderstorms. Good, locally moderate or poor at times.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 6, decreasing 4 to 5 by evening, further decreasing 3 to 4 overnight. Rather rough to rough, gradually decreasing smooth to slight with a low swell. Isolated showers in the morning and again after midnight. Good, perhaps locally moderate at times.