Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A declining ridge of high pressure will maintain mainly light winds and fair weather for most southern waters. In the north and west it will be more changeable, with stronger winds for a time, even gales at first in far northwest, and there will be rain or showers at times.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northwest and 3 later in south. Moderate or rough west of Orkney, elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain and showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north. Moderate or rough west and north of Orkney, elsewhere slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Showers. Good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in south. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Rain and showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Rattray Head. Showers. Moderate or good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: South or southeast, veering southwest, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers at first, then occasional rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest veering west or northwest becoming variable later, 3 or 4. Slight, occasionally smooth. Occasional rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair, occasional rain later in north. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming west or northwest for a time later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers. Moderate or good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming northwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or southeast becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming west or northwest 2 to 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers mainly in the west. Moderate or good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: East or southeast, 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming west or northwest 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, mainly in the west. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in Cardigan Bay. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest veering northwest, 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers at first. Moderate or good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: South or southwest, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering northwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate or poor at first.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 4 or 5, veering west or southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Fair, occasional rain rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 or 4, veering northwest 2 or 3 later. Slight, becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, then fair. Good occasionally moderate or poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north, veering westerly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate in north, elsewhere smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far south. Rain and showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 2 to 4, becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate in north, elsewhere smooth or slight. Rain at first, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre and for a time in the North Channel. Rain and showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate until later near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough, but smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura, becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain, showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura. Showers. Moderate or good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west and north, veering westerly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later near entrances, smooth east of skye. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, then becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate but smooth or slight in central areas, occasionally rough in north. Showers at first. Moderate or good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west and north, veering westerly 4 to 6 later. Rough, occasionally very rough at first in west, becoming moderate or rough later. Rain, then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, then becoming variable 2 or 3 later. Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later. Showers at first. Moderate or good.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time at first. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

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

Valid Saturday 08 Aug 2026 at 1200 UTC until Sunday 09 Aug 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: Atlantic low to south of Iceland will move drift northeast with associated frontal systems crossing Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in far west. Rough, but moderate in shelter east of shetland, and becoming moderate later in southeast. Occasional rain, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Sunday 09 Aug until 1200 UTC on Sunday 09 Aug: Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering westerly later in west. Rough in north and west, moderate in southeast. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 3 to 4, perhaps locally 5, becoming locally variable 1 to 3 at times, veering west Sunday morning. Smooth or slight. Fair or fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Risk of mist patches especially to the west and southwest of the area overnight. Good, locally moderate or poor.