Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A westerly or southwesterly flow across the British Isles will give strong winds at times, and gales in places, mainly for some northern waters, but also on Friday morning in the far southeast. Fronts bringing rain in the south will clear southeastwards on Friday morning with showers affecting northern waters. A ridge of high pressure will build from the south on Saturday with generally fair conditions developing for a time.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough to the north and west of Orkney, and becoming rough at times in east. Squally showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4, backing southeast 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north and at first in east. Showers, squally at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near Rattray Head. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later near Rattray Head. Squally showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, backing south later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, veering west 5 to 7. Slight occasionally moderate. Showers, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6, decreasing 3 or 4, backing south 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6. Slight, becoming moderate at times. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6, decreasing 2 to 4, backing south later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southeast. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in Thames estuary. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable, then southerly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Moderate occasionally rough, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly, then southeasterly later, 2 to 4. Slight, becoming smooth at times. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 to 6, then northwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate occasionally rough, becoming slight or moderate, then slight later. Rain or drizzle at first. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 2 or 3, then southeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough in far west and slight in east. Rain or drizzle at first. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east. Showers later. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first, becoming slight at times later in Bristol Channel. Rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming southeast 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in Bristol Channel. Showers later. Good.

St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first north of Anglesey. Moderate, occasionally slight in north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly backing southerly or southwesterly, then southeasterly later, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers later. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in far north. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6, backing southwest 3 to 5, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south. Showers later. Good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 or 5, backing south or southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5 later. Slight occasionally moderate. Fair, then occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough for a time in far north. Showers, squally in north. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly backing southerly, 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in north, then increasing 6 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north. Showers then occasional rain. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Kintyre. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly backing southerly, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later, but becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Clyde. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough in sheltered east, otherwise rough, occasionally very rough until later. Squally showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in central areas. Squally showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 or 4, then south or southeast 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in central areas. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough near Sutherland, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later. Squally showers, thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 or 4, then south or southeast 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far north. Showers, rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then west or northwest 6 or 7 later. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south and west. Showers, squally later. Good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Friday 04 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC until Friday 04 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Atlantic low south over the Faeroes will drift slowly east into Scandinavia with a showery airflow affecting Shetland Waters.

Forecast: Southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far south but decreasing 2 to 4 in north. Moderate becoming rough, then very rough later in far southwest, but slight becoming moderate in sheltered waters east of shetland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Friday 04 Sep until 0600 UTC on Saturday 05 Sep: Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first in north. otherwise cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7. Rough, very rough in southwest, but moderate or rough in sheltered waters east of shetland. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 5, locally 6 mid-channel at first, veering west to northwest by midday, decreasing 3 to 4 around dusk, then decreasing 2 to 3 later. Slight to moderate, locally rather rough in the north and west until midday, decreasing smooth to slight later, with a low swell throughout. Patchy drizzle, mist and a risk of fog patches, clearing by evening. Good, occasionally moderate to poor, perhaps locally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 1 to 3, becoming variable by midday, then east to northeast 3 to 4 around dusk, veering southeast later. Smooth to slight with a low swell. Fair or fine. Good to very good.