Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge of high pressure over southern United Kingdom will gradually decline southwards overnight as a brisk westerly or northwesterly flow becomes established across the inshore waters. Winds will become strong at times especially in the north with a risk of gales in the far north early on Saturday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing westerly 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough in north, occasionally very rough to the west and north of Orkney, slight or moderate in south. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time. Moderate or rough to the west and north of Orkney, smooth or slight elsewhere, occasionally moderate in far east. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later in south. Occasional rain then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 or 5 at first in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 5 at times in Firth of Forth. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far north. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Rain at times, fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming west or northwest 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later near Whitby. Smooth or slight. Rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6 for a time. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 to 5, backing south 2 or 3 for a time at first, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in far south. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly backing southerly or southwesterly, then becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near North Foreland. Occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near North Foreland and later elsewhere. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, becoming variable for a time, 2 to 4, then increasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth becoming slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West, veering northwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in far east, then increasing 6 at times later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in west and later in east. Drizzle later in west. Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Isles of Scilly. Occasional drizzle or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwest backing west, 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first, increasing 6 at times later. Smooth or slight, becoming mainly moderate later. Occasional rain or drizzle later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West veering northwest, 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Rain or showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6, veering west 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight occasionally moderate. Fair then occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in north. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable, mainly northwest, 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally moderate later. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, veering northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or drizzle then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north and smooth in far south. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in south and rough in far north. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Clyde and near arran. Fair then rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight occasionally moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 2 to 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 2 to 4, becoming west or northwest 5 or 6, decreasing 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 or 7, veering northwesterly 4 or 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near entrances and smooth later near north skye. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 in south. Slight or moderate, but mainly smooth or slight in central areas. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 6 or 7, veering northwesterly 4 or 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 in south. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight between barra and canna. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, veering northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in sheltered east, becoming rough or very rough for a time in south and west. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Saturday 25 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC until Saturday 25 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Low pressure moves to the north of Shetland Saturday morning veering the flow northwesterly.

Forecast: Southwest veering northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. Rough, but slight or moderate in sheltered waters east of shetland. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Saturday 25 Jul until 0000 UTC on Sunday 26 Jul: Northwest 6 to gale 8. Rough or very rough, and slight or moderate in sheltered waters just east of shetland. Rain or showers Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: North 2 to 4, variable 1 to 3 in the north at first, backing west to northwest 4 to 5 after midday Saturday. Smooth, locally slight becoming generally slight from midday, locally moderate after dusk. Fair or fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 4 to 5, perhaps locally 6. Slight to moderate, becoming moderate to rather rough from midday until late evening. Rain and drizzle spreading southeastwards and clearing early afternoon. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.