Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
00:00 (UTC) on Sat 22 Aug 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Sun 23 Aug 2026
General situation
The United Kingdom will be covered by a cool, northerly airflow at first with pressure building from the west. By Sunday winds will be lighter as an anticyclone crosses central areas.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west 3 or 4. Slight or moderate. Fair then showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West, becoming variable, 2 to 4. To the west of Orkney, moderate occasionally slight at first, elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers then fair. Good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate becoming slight. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: North, becoming variable, 2 to 4. Moderate. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Moderate becoming slight. Fair. Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Whitby, becoming variable, 2 to 4. Moderate, occasionally slight later in south. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Moderate at first in north, otherwise slight. Fair. Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in Thames estuary. Shower at first. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming easterly, 2 to 4. Occasionally smooth in Thames estuary, otherwise slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Fair. Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first near North Foreland, becoming variable later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate for a time near North Foreland. Showers near North Foreland. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: North or northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east 4 or 5 later, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in far west. Fair. Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: Northerly, veering northeasterly, 2 to 4, increasing 5 for a time near the Isles of Scilly, then becoming variable 2 to 4 in east. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far west. Showers in far west then fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly, but variable at first east, 2 to 4, becoming easterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth for a time in east. Fair. Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: Northeast, backing north for a time, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Lands End. Showers in far west then fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 near Lands End. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel
24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, veering northeast 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers then fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: North or northwest, becoming variable later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first near Mull of Galloway. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near the Mull of Galloway. Showers at first. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth, occasionally slight at first. Fair. Good.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight occasionally moderate at first. Fair then showers in north. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming east or southeast later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers at first in north. Good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in the North Channel. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming easterly or southeasterly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point
24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or less. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming southeast later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Showers. Good.
The Minch
24 hour forecast: Northwest, backing west, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far north. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath
24 hour forecast: Northwest, backing west, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Moderate, occasionally slight at first in far south. Showers. Good.
Shetland Isles
24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, backing west 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers for a time. Good.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Saturday 22 Aug 2026 at 0000 UTC until Saturday 22 Aug 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation: Ridge of high pressure will build across Shetland Waters from the southwest.
Forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later Moderate, but rough at first in far east Fair Good
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Saturday 22 Aug until 0000 UTC on Sunday 23 Aug: West or northwest 3 or 4 Slight or moderate Showers Mainly good
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: North to northwest 2 to 4, veering northeast by dawn, increasing 4 to 5 by dusk. Smooth or slight, a low swell at first. Isolated showers from dawn, clearing during the afternoon. Good, locally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 4 to 5, veering east by dawn, increasing 5 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, soon increasing slight to moderate. Risk of isolated showers. Good, perhaps locally moderate.