Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
18:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Jul 2026 to 18:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jul 2026
General situation
High pressure centred over the north Atlantic, will give a generally slack northerly flow and largely dry and settled weather to British waters.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 2 to 4, backing westerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far northwest. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north. Smooth at first in Moray Firth, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest. Occasional drizzle, rain later. Moderate or good.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later in south. Smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore. Fair. Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming south or southeast 2 to 4 later. Slight occasionally moderate at first in south. Showers at first. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 2 to 4, veering west or southwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Fair. Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming southeast 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers, fair later. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Fair. Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in north, smooth or slight in south. Showers for a time. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming southerly 2 to 4, then backing easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, but moderate at first in far northeast. Fair. Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3, occasionally 4 at first. Smooth, occasionally slight in Strait of Dover. Fair at first, then showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth, occasionally slight in Strait of Dover. Fair. Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 1 to 3, then south 2 to 4 later. Smooth. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 2 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3, then southwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth. Fair. Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: Northerly 4 or 5 at first in far west, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate west of Lands End. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 or 5 later in far west. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5 in far west, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far west. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 4 or 5 at first in far west, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel
24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Cardigan Bay. Occasional drizzle for a time in north. Good, occasionally moderate in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Occasional drizzle for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Isle of Man - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in west, and occasionally 3 later. Slight, occasionally moderate. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest, backing west, 3 or 4. Slight. Fair. Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 2 to 4, then becoming variable later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later in far north. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in North Channel. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 2 to 4, then becoming variable later. Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later near Mull of Kintyre. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point
24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing west later. Slight or moderate, but smooth in shelter. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 or 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Tiree. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Slight, occasionally smooth. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight near skye. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in north. Moderate, occasionally slight at first. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north. Moderate or rough. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Northwest 2 to 4, backing west 4 or 5, then backing southwest 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Wednesday 22 Jul 2026 at 1800 UTC until Thursday 23 Jul 2026 at 0600 UTC
General situation: High pressure west of the British Isles slips south allowing a strengthening westerly flow to develop over Shetlands Waters on Thursday.
Forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in west later. Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast. smooth in sheltered waters east of shetland. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Thursday 23 Jul until 1800 UTC on Thursday 23 Jul: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest. Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast. smooth in sheltered waters east of shetland. Occasional rain or drizzle Good, occasionally moderate or poor
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: North to northwest 3 to 4, veering east 2 to 3 overnight, becoming variable 1 to 2 around dawn, then becoming north 2 to 4 by mid-afternoon. Smooth, occasionally slight. Fair or fine. Good or very good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 4, decreasing 1 to 3 overnight, occasionally variable, increasing north 3 to 4 in the south of the area later. Smooth, occasionally slight. Fair or fine. Good or very good.