Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
00:00 (UTC) on Sun 24 May 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Mon 25 May 2026
General situation
High pressure will continue to build across the United Kingdom through the weekend bringing fine and increasingly very warm weather to most areas. However fog patches will affect some western waters and a weak frontal system will bring some rain or drizzle at times to the far north and west.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in south. Slight or moderate to west and north of Orkney, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle in north. Good, occasionally poor in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, veering westerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later to west and north of Orkney, otherwise smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times mainly in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times. Slight, occasionally smooth in south. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: South or southwest, occasionally variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth occasionally slight. Fair. Good.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 or 4 for a time. Smooth occasionally slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth. Fair. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming mainly southeasterly, 2 to 4. Smooth. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming mainly easterly then southeasterly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: North becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: North or northeast veering east, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Fog patches at first in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable mainly east or northeast, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in east, slight or moderate in west. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming northeasterly in south, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate in south, and smooth at times in Bristol Channel. Fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable becoming easterly or southeasterly, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel and moderate in southwest. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 2 in south and 5 at first in north, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Fog patches at first, otherwise fair. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming mainly northeast, 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 until later in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Isle of Man
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in places, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first, becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming northwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east and south. Fair. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in far north. Mainly fair. Good.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less, then northerly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Mull of Kintyre. Mainly fair. Good.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest, occasionally variable 2 to 4 in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest. Occasional rain or drizzle mainly in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Moderate or rough west of Tiree, slight or moderate elsewhere. Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and very poor in north.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth northeast of skye. Rain or drizzle, fog patches developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate until later in north and south. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later. Moderate, occasionally rough west of the Outer Hebrides and slight near Sutherland. Rain or drizzle, fog patches developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5. Moderate or rough west of the Outer Hebrides, slight or moderate elsewhere. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first and 3 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Sunday 24 May 2026 at 0000 UTC until Sunday 24 May 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation: A southwesterly flow will continue to affect Shetland Waters.
Forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west. Moderate, occasionally rough in west but slight just east of shetland. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Sunday 24 May until 0000 UTC on Monday 25 May: Southwest 3 or 4. Moderate, becoming slight in southeast. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: Northeast 2 to 3, locally 4 at times, veering east around dusk. Smooth or slight, with a low swell. Small risk of mist patches at first. Good, perhaps locally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 3 to 4, locally 2 at times, veering southeast later. Smooth or slight, with a low swell. Small risk of mist or fog patches. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.