Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge of high pressure extending from the southwest across the British Isles will persist, maintaining light to moderate breezes over the coastal waters, although drizzle and fog patches will affect some western and northern areas at times.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, but westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 at first to the west and north of Orkney. Slight or moderate to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Drizzle and fog patches later in northwest. Good, occasionally poor, but very poor at times later in northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in Moray Firth. Slight or moderate to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle fog patches in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 in south. Smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Slight, occasionally smooth until later. Fair. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly 4 at times in south. Slight. Fog patches developing later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Southeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less for a time. Slight, occasionally smooth. Fair. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in south. Fog patches developing later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less for a time. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, backing northeasterly 3 to 5 later in south. Smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth, occasionally slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth, occasionally slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or northeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable but often northerly in west, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight from Lizard Point eastwards but slight throughout further west, occasionally moderate later near Isles of Scilly. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming mainly northeasterly later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in far west, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: West 3 or 4 at first in Bristol Channel, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming mainly northerly later in west. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then north or northeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth, occasionally slight. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, but mainly northerly in west, 2 to 4. Smooth, occasionally slight. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Smooth, occasionally slight. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming northwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth, occasionally slight. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3, then north or northwest 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Fog patches for a time. Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North becoming variable, 2 or 3, then northeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Slight in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 later in North Channel. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in far north. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 later in North Channel. Smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 for a time in west and north. Smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later in north and 3 in south, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Rain or drizzle at times, with fog patches, becoming fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later in north and 3 in south, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Moderate to the west of the Outer Hebrides but slight or moderate further east. Drizzle at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate to the west of the Outer Hebrides, but slight or moderate further east. Rain or drizzle at times, with fog patches, becoming fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

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

Valid Thursday 09 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC until Thursday 09 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: A moist southwesterly flow covers Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwest 4 or 5. Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast, and smooth in sheltered waters just east of shetland. Occasional drizzle, fog patches. Good, occasionally moderate to very poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Thursday 09 Jul until 0000 UTC on Friday 10 Jul: Southwest 3 to 5. Moderate, but slight in sheltered waters just east of shetland. Occasional drizzle, fog patches. Good, occasionally moderate to very poor.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northeast 2 to 3, backing north by mid-morning for a time, increasing 3 to 4 by lunch. Smooth or slight. Fair or fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast or 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 by dawn Friday. Smooth or slight, increasing slight to moderate later. Fair or fine. Good or very good.