Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure centred over the north Atlantic will continue to bring a generally northerly flow and largely settled weather. However there will be strong winds and drizzle at times across some northern waters, and showers for some eastern waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate in north and later in southeast, smooth or slight elsewhere, becoming moderate or rough later northwest of Orkney. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, elsewhere mainly slight or moderate, but moderate or rough at first to the northwest of Orkney. Occasional drizzle, fog patches later in northwest. Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate occasionally very poor later in northwest.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly, but northerly or northwesterly at first near Rattray Head, 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwesterly 4 to 6 later in far north. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in far north. Occasional drizzle in north. Good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, but westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 until later in far north. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far north. Occasional drizzle in north. Good, occasionally poor in north.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: North or northeast, backing northwest for a time, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in southeast. Slight, but moderate at first in northeast, occasionally smooth in the wash and later in far south. Showers, mainly east. Good occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly becoming variable, 2 to 4, then northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in north. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 to 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers for a time in far east. Good, occasionally moderate later in far east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5, then cyclonic later. Smooth or slight, becoming smooth. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth occasionally slight at first. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, but northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 in far west. Smooth in east, slight in west, occasionally moderate in far west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 in east, northerly 3 to 5 in west. Smooth in east, slight in west, occasionally moderate in far west. Fair. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Northerly 3 to 5 in west, variable 2 to 4 in east. Smooth in east, slight in west, occasionally moderate in far west. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 4 or 5 in west, variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 later in east. Smooth in east, slight in west, occasionally moderate in far west. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in Cardigan Bay. Smooth or slight, occasionally slight or moderate for a time in northwest. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in Cardigan Bay and moderate in far west and far north. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in Solway Firth and in far south, then increasing 5 or 6 later near Mull of Galloway. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Galloway. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but 5 or 6 at first in northwest and variable 2 to 4 in east. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time at first in west. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 until later in far south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in the North Channel,. Slight occasionally moderate, but smooth or slight in far south. Occasional drizzle in north. Good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but 5 or 6 at first the North Channel, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far south. Slight occasionally moderate, but smooth or slight in far south. Occasional drizzle until later in north. Good, occasionally poor until later in north.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 for a time east of the isle of arran, increasing 5 or 6 later in the North Channel. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in the North Channel. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in the North Channel. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in the North Channel. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in west and south, smooth or slight elsewhere. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in west and until later south, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional drizzle until later. Good, occasionally poor until later.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3 at first northeast of skye, otherwise northwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in north. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly, backing westerly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in north. Occasional drizzle, fog patches later in far north. Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate occasionally very poor later in far north.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight in south. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly, backing westerly later, 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight in south. Occasional drizzle, fog patches later in far north. Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate occasionally very poor later in far north.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 later, then veering northwest later. Slight, but smooth or slight in east, becoming moderate, but slight or moderate in east and occasionally rough later in west. Occasional drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Monday 20 Jul 2026 at 1800 UTC until Tuesday 21 Jul 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: An area of high pressure will persist to the west of Scotland with a west or northwesterly flow across Shetland Waters

Forecast: Northwest, backing west or southwest for a time, 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 later Slight or moderate, but smooth just east of shetland Occasional rain or drizzle Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Tuesday 21 Jul until 1800 UTC on Tuesday 21 Jul: Northwest 5 or 6 Moderate, becoming rough in west. slight east of shetland. Occasional rain or drizzle Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northeast 2 to 4 north of jersey, 3 to 5 to the south, occasionally variable 1 to 3, becoming northerly Tuesday afternoon. Smooth or slight, perhaps locally moderate. Fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast to north 2 to 4, locally variable at times. Smooth or slight. Fair risk of mist patches in the west. Good, perhaps poor in the west.