Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A complex area of low pressure across the British Isles will transfer northeast into the North Sea during Friday, as another low reaches the southwest on Saturday. This will maintain unsettled weather for most coastlines with occasional rain or showers, some of which will be heavy and thundery. Strong winds will develop around northeastern coasts of Scotland and also some southern coasts of England and Wales.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly, backing northerly or northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near north Orkney. Rain at times, fog patches in east. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west and very poor in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, veering easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeasterly 3 or 4, backing westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later in north. Slight or moderate. Rain or drizzle with fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north, becoming variable, then northeasterly later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Rain at first in north, otherwise showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 or 3, becoming west or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain, then showers later, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then northeast 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first. Showers at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming west or southwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Thundery rain, then showers later, fog patches at first. Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Fair then occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later near North Foreland. Slight or moderate. Showers, thundery at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in the Thames estuary. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7. Slight, becoming slight or moderate, occasionally rough later. Showers, thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, backing southerly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate or rough. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight, becoming moderate, occasionally rough later. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, backing south for a time, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time. Slight or moderate. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later, then veering west 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time except in northwest. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, then westerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Lands End, decreasing 2 or 3 for a time in north. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming west or southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in south. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then west 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in south and also later in north. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming west or northwest, 3 to 5, backing southwest later in Liverpool Bay. Smooth or slight. Rain then showers, thundery at first in south. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair then rain at times. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North or northeast 3 or 4, backing west or northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Occasional rain, becoming fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then north 3 or 4 later. Slight. Fair then rain or drizzle for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 for a time except in far south. Smooth or slight. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Smooth or slight. Fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly backing westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later except in far south. Smooth or slight. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair then rain at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable mainly northeast, 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then northeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable mainly northeast, 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth near Ardnamurchan Point but moderate in west and later in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 or 4, backing northeast 3 to 5, then north 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in southeast. Fair then rain. Good, becoming moderate or poor.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning

Valid Friday 28 Aug 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 28 Aug 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Low pressure system over the UK at first will continue to move northeast over the Northern North Sea through Friday

Forecast: Southeasterly backing easterly then northeasterly later, 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in the southeast. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in the southeast. Mainly fair at first, rain later. Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 28 Aug until 0000 UTC on Saturday 29 Aug: Northeast backing north 4 to 6 Slight or moderate in the northwest, moderate or rough in the southeast. Rain Moderate or poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 3 to 4, locally 2 at first, increasing 4 to 5 after dawn, then backing southwest 5 to 6 by late afternoon, decreasing 4 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, increasing moderate by midday, occasionally rather rough mid-channel. Occasional showers, perhaps locally heavy and thundery. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 5, backing south 5 to 6 after dawn, then veering southwest 6 to 7 late afternoon, further veering west 5 to 6 later. Slight to moderate, increasing rather rough to rough. Rain, locally heavy, clearing after midday occasional showers. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.