Inshore waters forecast and strong winds
Issued by the Met Office at
Inshore waters forecast to 12 miles offshore
00:00 (UTC) on Tue 28 Jul 2026 to 00:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Jul 2026
General situation
A high over the Continent maintains settled conditions in the southeast of the United Kingdom, but an Atlantic low that tracks northeast towards Faeroes brings rain, showers and strong winds at times to the northern and western waters.
Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 2 to 4, backing southeast 3 to 5, veering southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight in southeast, but moderate in northwest. Showers, rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable, mainly westerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight in southeast, but moderate, occasionally rough at first, in northwest. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest backing southeast, 2 to 4, veering southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth near shore. Rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Whitby to Gibraltar Point
24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5 decreasing 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth later. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest backing southeast, becoming variable, then northwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.
Gibraltar Point to North Foreland
24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly becoming variable, 2 to 4, then westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
North Foreland to Selsey Bill
24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight becoming smooth. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5. Smooth, becoming slight later. Fair. Good.
Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis
24 hour forecast: West or northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Slight becoming smooth. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming southwest, veering northwest later, 4 or 5. Smooth becoming slight. Fair. Good.
Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly
24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Isles of Scilly. Fair. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, becoming west 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.
Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 4 or less. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 4 or less, becoming west 4 or 5. Slight, occasionally smooth at first in east. Showers. Good.
St Davids Head to Great Orme Head, including St Georges Channel - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northwest. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first near great orme head. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in northwest and smooth near great orme head. Showers. Good.
Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers. Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 2 or 3 later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery in north. Good, occasionally poor.
Isle of Man - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time later. Slight or moderate. Occasional drizzle, becoming mainly fair later. Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4 occasionally 5 at first, veering west or northwest 2 to 4 later. Slight occasionally moderate at first. Fair at first, then rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate at times.
Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough
24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in southeast. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later except in north. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Galloway to Mull of Kintyre including the Firth of Clyde and North Channel
24 hour forecast: Southerly 2 to 4, veering southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly for a time. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Galloway. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering northwesterly, 3 or 4, backing southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Mull of Galloway. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 or 4, veering southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 3 or 4, then northwest 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in northwest. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.
The Minch - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in central areas and rough later near entrances. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first near entrances and smooth later in central areas. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning
24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Moderate or rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.
Shetland Isles
24 hour forecast: West 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then southeast, veering southwest later, 4 or 5. Moderate, but slight in southeast and rough at first in north and west. Showers, rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland
Valid Tuesday 28 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC until Tuesday 28 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC
General situation: An area of low pressure will be slow moving in the Norwegian Sea. Another area of low pressure developing to the northwest of Scotland through Tuesday.
Forecast: West 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4. Moderate or rough. Fair then rain. Good becoming moderate at times.
Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Tuesday 28 Jul until 0000 UTC on Wednesday 29 Jul: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeast 4 or 5, veering south or southwest 4 or 5 later. Moderate. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Channel Islands
24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 3, becoming mainly northeast 3 to 4 by late afternoon. Smooth or slight with a low swell. Risk of mist or coastal fog patches, mainly in the north of the area. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast or variable 1 to 3, becoming west to northwest 2 to 4 Wednesday morning increasing 4 during the evening perhaps locally 5. Smooth or slight perhaps locally moderate later. Risk of mist or fog patches at first and again later, mainly in the north of the area. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.