Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure over the North Sea and low pressure over the northeast Atlantic will bring a mainly southerly or southeasterly airflow to most of the inshore waters areas with largely settled conditions. However there will be some occasional rain or showers for many northwestern and northern waters, and strong winds for a time to some eastern and northwestern waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in Moray Firth and in northwest. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers, becoming fair for a time. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in Moray Firth, and later also near aberdeenshire, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later in northwest.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly veering southerly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southwest. Smooth or slight in Firth of Forth, otherwise slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 until later in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in Firth of Forth, but elsewhere slight or moderate becoming slight later. Mainly fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6, veering south 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Mainly fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 5 or 6, but 4 at first in south, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming mainly slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5. Slight, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 until later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and 2 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: East or southeast, backing northeast for a time, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but slight in lyme bay. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, backing east or northeast 2 to 4 for a time later. Slight, occasionally moderate except in lyme bay. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable, then west later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in far west, otherwise slight, occasionally smooth in lyme bay. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly southeasterly, 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 later in north. Slight near Cornwall, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 to 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 or 3, becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in far west. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming south or southwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally poor later.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 for a time later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4 occasionally 5 in places for a time, veering south or southeast later . Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less for a time, settling south or southwest later 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: South or southeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers later in northwest, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor later in northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, mainly northwest, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor in northwest.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first except in North Channel, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair, occasional rain or showers later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times in east. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Mainly fair, occasional rain or showers later, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 2 at times in east. Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate elsewhere. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 at first in northeast, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later in north. Slight or moderate in far north and southwest, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, but 5 or 6 at first in north. Slight or moderate in southwest and at first in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, but 3 or 4 at first in north, increasing 5 or 6 later in north. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 4 or 5, but 5 or 6 at first in north, decreasing 3 or 4 for a time. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, backing south or southeast 4 or 5 for a time. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

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

Valid Tuesday 11 Aug 2026 at 1200 UTC until Wednesday 12 Aug 2026 at 0000 UTC

General situation: High pressure over the North Sea will drift east with a strengthening southerly airflow over Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southwest 3 or 4 backing south 4 or 5. Slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0000 UTC on Wednesday 12 Aug until 1200 UTC on Wednesday 12 Aug: Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, decreasing 3 later in south. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: East to northeast 3 to 4, locally 5 at first, becoming locally varaible 1 to 3 from dawn. Smooth to slight, but moderate at first mid-channel. Fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northeast 3 to 4, locally 2 at first, increasing 4 to 5 for a time in the late afternoon and evening, veering west to northwest 2 to 4 later. Smooth to slight, perhaps locally moderate in the afternoon. Fine. Good or very good.