Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A westerly flow across the British Isles will give strong winds at times across all areas, and a risk of gales in some places, more especially in the northwest. Fronts will edge eastwards and southwards to bring some rain to most areas, followed by showers mainly across northern waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, backing south or southwest 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in inner Moray Firth and rough later in northwest. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 or 6, veering west 6 to gale 8. Slight or moderate in Moray Firth, elsewhere moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in northwest. Squally showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south. Mainly fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Rattray Head. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 or 5, veering west 5 to 7. Slight occasionally moderate. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight, occasionally moderate at first offshore. Rain at times. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight occasionally moderate. Rain at first, showers later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time, then increasing 7 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary and the wash. Rain later in north. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 or 7, veering westerly 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Thames estuary. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate. Occasional drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 6 or 7, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5. Moderate, becoming slight later. Occasional rain or drizzle at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate. Drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Moderate, becoming mainly slight. Rain or drizzle then fair. Good, occasionally poor at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later. Moderate, occasionally slight at first in far east, becoming rough later to the west of Lands End. Rain or drizzle at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, but moderate or rough to the west of Lands End. Rain or drizzle then fair. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest, veering west or northwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in Bristol Channel, becoming rough at times later. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in west and slight later in Bristol Channel. Rain at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time later near St Davids Head. Mainly fair then occasional rain. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fair then rain, showers later. Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Squally showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 5 or 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time, then decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then slight later. Showers. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times mainly later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far north. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. In far north moderate or rough occasionally very rough, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Smooth or slight in far north, otherwise slight, occasionally moderate in North Channel and also later elsewhere. Showers, rain for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near Mull of Kintyre. Showers, squally at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough except east of islay and jura, occasionally very rough later. Showers, becoming squally. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Rough or very rough, but mainly moderate or rough in far east and southeast. Squally showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later except just northeast of skye. Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough until later. Squally thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first and gale 8 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later. Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 at times later. Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest, becoming moderate or rough later. Squally thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast veering west or southwest, then backing south later, 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Occasional rain then showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Valid Thursday 03 Sep 2026 at 0600 UTC until Thursday 03 Sep 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: An Atlantic low will push the associated weather fronts in from the west on Thursday, the low then tracking close to the Faeroes on Friday.

Forecast: Southeast 5 or 6 veering west or southwest 4 or 5. Moderate. Rain then showers. Moderate or poor becoming good.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Thursday 03 Sep until 0600 UTC on Friday 04 Sep: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, becoming 6 in west. Moderate, becoming rough in west. Showers. Moderate or good.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 mid-channel, mainly later, locally 2 to 3 in the far south of the area this afternoon and evening. Slight to moderate, occasionally rather rough mid-channel, mainly later. Patchy rain or drizzle, mainly in the northwest, with a risk of mist or fog patches. Good, occasionally moderate to poor, perhaps locally very poor at times.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to southwest 4 to 5, occasionally 6 mid-channel until midday, veering northwest 3 to 4 around dusk, decreasing 2 to 3 later. Rather rough mid-channel at first, otherwise slight to moderate, decreasing smooth to slight with a low swell later. Occasional rain and drizzle, with a risk of mist patches, clearing late afternoon. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.