Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A complex area of low pressure will move southeastwards into the North Sea and slowly fill through the period. This will maintain a changeable cyclonic flow with rain or showers across all areas, thundery in places, and strong winds at times, mainly in the north and west.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 3 to 5, backing north or northwest, 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in Moray Firth, becoming moderate or rough north and west of Orkney. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first north and west of Orkney. Showers. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5, then backing north 4 to 6 later, but decreasing 2 or 3 later in Firth of Forth. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, and 2 at times in firth Forth and st andrews bay. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Showers. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north or northeast, 3 to 5. Slight becoming moderate. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North backing northwest at times, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming mainly north, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North backing northwest for a time, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 2 or 3, increasing 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in south. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far south. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in south, and becoming slight or moderate in north. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times off shore. Slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, veering northerly or northeasterly, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering west or northwest, 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest, 4 to 6, veering north or northwest, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly veering northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough near Isles of Scilly. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly 2 to 4, backing northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough at first near Isles of Scilly, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in east. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly veering northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Moderate or rough in south, elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, and 2 later in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth later in east. Showers. Moderate or good.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west, 3 to 5, then north or northwest, 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first east of Anglesey. Showers, thundery at first. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 3 or 4, then north or northeast, 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in south. Showers, thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly north 3 to 5, decreasing 2 or 3 for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in south. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4, veering northeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later, backing north or northwest later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 to 5, decreasing 2 to 4 for a time. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5, backing north or northwest later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south. Showers, thundery until later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north and smooth at times in south and east. Showers. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in north, then northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre, becoming slight or moderate later in North Channel. Showers, thundery until later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly northerly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate at first in North Channel, becoming smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 4 to 6, backing north 4 or 5 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in sheltered east and rough at times until later in west. Showers, thundery until later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Smooth or slight east of islay and jura, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west and south, backing northerly later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, backing northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south. Showers. Good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west and south, backing northerly later. Moderate, occasionally rough in north and west. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, backing northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North 5 or 6. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning

Valid Wednesday 19 Aug 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 20 Aug 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Pressure remains low over Scandinavia, maintaining a northerly airstream over Shetland waters

Forecast: North 5 or 6 Moderate or rough Showers Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 20 Aug until 1800 UTC on Thursday 20 Aug: North 5 or 6. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 4 to 5, locally 6, backing west to southwest for a time. Moderate, perhaps rather rough in the west. Isolated showers, perhaps heavy from early Thursday. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6 at times, veering northwest 4 by midnight further veering northerly 3 to 4 by Friday morning. Moderate, locally rather rough at first, decreasing smooth to slight with a low swell. Isolated showers, perhaps heavy. Good, occasionally moderate.