Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge of high pressure will maintain mostly settled conditions across southern and eastern areas during Saturday evening and Saturday night. However there will be showers in the far northwest, and then outbreaks of rain or drizzle will move into northern and western parts as Atlantic fronts approach Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: West 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming east or northeast 3 to 5, veering southeast 4 to 6 later. Moderate at first near northwestern Orkney, otherwise smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate again later in north. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less at first in north, except near Rattray Head, otherwise westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable mainly southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first, becoming south or southeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, then rain later in south. Good, occasionally moderate later in south.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming west or northwest 3 or 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming west or southwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair, then showers. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in south, then becoming variable 3 or less except in far south. Mainly smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate at first in far south. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly 3 or 4 at first in far south, otherwise variable 3 or less, becoming southeasterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in east, becoming variable 2 at times in west, then becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming west or northwest 2 to 4, backing southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 at times in east. Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 2 or 3 at first in east, otherwise northwesterly 3 or 4, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later near the Isles of Scilly. Mainly fair. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5 backing west or southwest 2 or 3, then increasing 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in far west. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming southwesterly 3 or 4 later in northwest. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later, then becoming southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair, then occasional rain. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less becoming westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, then backing southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later in north. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair, then occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, veering west for a time, 3 or 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4 at first in north, otherwise variable 3 or less, becoming southerly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate until later in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Mainly fair, then occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 or 4 veering west or southwest 2 to 4, backing south 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally moderate in south and poor in north.

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

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4 backing westerly 2 or 3, then southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, then occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering westerly 2 or 3 for a time. Smooth or slight. Rain or drizzle at times. Good, occasionally moderate in south and poor in north.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4 backing southwest 2 to 4, then backing south or southeast later. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of Islay and Jura. Showers, then rain at times. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast, veering southwest for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of Islay and Jura. Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Westerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 later in south. Moderate until later in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers, then rain for a time in south. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less at first in north, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in west and south. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Westerly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming southeasterly 3 or 4 later in south. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight between Barra and Canna. Showers, then rain for a time in south. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less at first in north, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5. Smooth or slight at first between Barra and Canna, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 or 4 veering north or northwest 2 to 4. Slight or moderate in north, west and south but smooth or slight in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

Valid Saturday 15 Aug 2026 at 1800 UTC until Sunday 16 Aug 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: High pressure builds over Shetland with a weakening showery northwesterly flow.

Forecast: Northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in the southeast. Mainly moderate, but slight in the east. Showers or rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Sunday 16 Aug until 1800 UTC on Sunday 16 Aug: Northwesterly 3 or 4, decreasing 2 later in the southwest. Mainly moderate, but slight or smooth to the east and southeast of Shetland. Showers or rain Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: North to northwest 3 to 4, occasionally 5, mainly in the southeast of the area, becoming variable 1 to 3 overnight, then northwest to north 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Risk of mist or fog patches near the French coast Sunday morning. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 3 to 4, occasionally 5 in the southeast at first, decreasing 2 to 3 for a time Monday morning. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.