Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure will move east-northeastwards across northwestern Scotland during Wednesday night and Thursday morning, bringing rain and strong locally gale force winds to this area. Elsewhere across the United Kingdom there will be a mainly west to northwesterly airflow during the next 24 hours.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, becoming thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 3 at times later in east. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery for a time in north. Good, occasionally poor in north and moderate in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West backing southwest, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Rattray Head. Showers, mainly later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 2 or 3 veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later in north. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair then showers. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers for a time. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then west 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers for a time. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in south, otherwise westerly or northwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers later, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming northerly or northwesterly for a time, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering northwesterly 2 to 4, but then backing southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time. Slight, occasionally smooth at first and also moderate later in east. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Northwest 2 to 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, but becoming variable 3 or less for a time in east. Slight or moderate at first near the Isles of Scilly, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming variable for a time in east, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in east, slight throughout in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4 veering west or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth later in east. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 2 to 4 backing west or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 or 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or northwest 3 or 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers in north. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first, then becoming variable 3 or less later in north. Smooth or slight. Rain at times, then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less at first in north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Showers. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less becoming west or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later, then becoming variable 3 or less again later. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming west or southwest 3 or 4. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 for a time, occasionally 6 for a time in north. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, then decreasing 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 2 or 3 backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in north, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough at first in northwest, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of Islay and Jura. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, becoming westerly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south and smooth later. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

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

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, becoming westerly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough until later except in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Fair then showers, thundery at times later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Thursday 30 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC until Thursday 30 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: An Atlantic low develops and moves northeast over northern Scotland on Thursday

Forecast: Southwesterly becoming variable 2 to 4, but southwesterly 5 at first in far north Moderate, becoming slight in southeast Occasional showers later Mainly good, occasionally moderate later

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Thursday 30 Jul until 0000 UTC on Friday 31 Jul: Variable 2 or 3 becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 Slight or moderate, but smooth in sheltered waters east of Shetland Rain or showers, occasionally heavy and thundery Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 3 to 4, decreasing 2 to 3 for a time towards dawn. Smooth or slight. Locally mist or fog patches. Good, locally poor or perhaps very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 3 to 4, locally 5 at times. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.