Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge of high pressure will gradually decline southwards on Friday, allowing a strong westerly flow and more unsettled weather to affect northern waters. During Saturday, a stronger and cooler northwesterly flow will spread to all parts.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far northwest. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far northwest. Occasional drizzle, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, then backing westerly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough near Rattray Head and in north, occasionally very rough in far northwest. Rain at first, then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south. Slight, occasionally moderate offshore. Rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, then backing westerly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time near Rattray Head. Rain at first, then showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 at times near Whitby. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 or 6, then veering west 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate offshore in north. Showers. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 or 3, then west 3 or 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 3 or 4, backing southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 north of Flamborough Head. Smooth or slight. Fair at first, then showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

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

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers later in north. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4. Smooth, occasionally slight in Strait of Dover. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Smooth, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming southwest 2 to 4, then veering northwest later. Smooth. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4, backing west or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northern or northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then north or northwest 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing west 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers later. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: North or northeast, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then west or northwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4, backing west 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming mainly moderate later. Showers later. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: North or northwest, backing west later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 2 to 4, backing southwest 4 to 6, then veering west 3 or 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth at first, and occasionally moderate later. Fair at first, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, backing west or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Smooth or slight. Fair at first, then showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 to 5, backing southwest 5 or 6, then veering west 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Northwest, backing west or southwest, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Mainly slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 at times. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far north. Occasional drizzle or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 at times. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Occasional drizzle or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in Firth of Clyde. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later near Tiree. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later near Tiree. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing west 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, but slight in shelter. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north, increasing 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 4 to 6, then backing westerly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first. Rain at first, then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north, increasing 6 or 7 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional drizzle, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering northwesterly 4 to 6, then backing westerly 3 or 4 later. Rough, occasionally very rough at first, and occasionally moderate later. Rain at first, then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 or 6. Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate to lee of Shetland. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

Valid Friday 24 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 24 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: High pressure west of the British Isles slips south allowing a strengthening westerly flow to develop over Shetlands Waters on Friday

Forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6 Moderate in south and east, but slight or smooth in sheltered waters east of shetland. occasionally rough in north and west. Occasional rain or drizzle at first, then showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 24 Jul until 0000 UTC on Saturday 25 Jul: West or southwest 5 or 6 Moderate in south and east, but slight in sheltered waters east of shetland. rough in north and west. Rain or showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Northeast to east 1 to 3 overnight, becoming variable in the morning, becoming northerly 3 to 4, locally 5 southeast of jersey in the afternoon and early evening. Smooth, locally slight in the south later. Fair some mist patches near the normandy coast early morning. Very good, locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 3 to 4, backing northwest by midday, backing west 4 to 5 later. Smooth, locally slight, becoming slight to moderate. Fair or fine. Good or very good.