Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A northerly flow will continue to bring showers to the inshore waters through Friday, some heavy especially in the south, and with strong across some eastern coasts. A ridge of high pressure will then slowly build across the British Isles from the west bringing lighter winds and with showers becoming more isolated to start the weekend.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east. Moderate, occasionally slight in Moray Firth and rough at first in north. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly backing westerly, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Moray Firth. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south. Moderate, occasionally slight in south. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Mainly fair. Good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 2 to 4 later. Moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight in south. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in south. Showers at first. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later, but veering northeasterly 3 to 5 for a time later in south. Slight, occasionally moderate in north and smooth in south. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight in Thames estuary, slight or moderate elsewhere. Thundery showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Northwesterly veering northerly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first and smooth later. Showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near North Foreland. Showers at first, perhaps thundery in east. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: North 4, becoming variable, then northeast later, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less. 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 to 4 for a time in far east. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly veering easterly or northeasterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate in far west, elsewhere smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: North or northwest, veering northeast later, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later in Bristol Channel. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in the Bristol Channel. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in the Bristol Channel. Slight, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel and moderate at first in west. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 or 3 for a time at first in Cardigan Bay and east of Anglesey. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth at times in north. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Northwest 4 or 5 near Mull of Galloway, otherwise variable mainly north, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later near Mull of Galloway. Showers, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 until later except near Mull of Galloway, otherwise northwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Mull of Galloway. Showers at first. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: North 3 to 5, decreasing 2 or 3 for a time. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Slight occasionally moderate at first. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, decreasing 3 at times in south. Slight occasionally moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in south. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in far south. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate in the North Channel, smooth or slight elsewhere. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in the North Channel. Mainly fair. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in east. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, backing west 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in west. Fair then showers. Good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, decreasing 2 or 3 later. Smooth or slight in south, slight or moderate in north. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 2 or 3, backing west or southwest 3 or 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north, becoming slight at times in south. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest backing west, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in area between barra and Ardnamurchan Point. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times until later. Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later. Showers at first. Good.

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

Valid Friday 21 Aug 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 21 Aug 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Pressure remains low over Scandinavia, maintaining a north or northwesterly flow over Shetland waters.

Forecast: North or northwest 5 or 6 Moderate or rough Showers Mainly good

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 21 Aug until 0000 UTC on Saturday 22 Aug: Northwest 5 or 6 Moderate or rough Fair Good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: North to northwest 3 to 4, locally 5 at first. Slight, decreasing smooth or slight by dawn, with a low swell throughout. Isolated showers, likely more frequent and heavy after dawn, with a risk of thunderstorms. Good, occasionally moderate, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northwest 2 to 4, veering east to northeast by dawn, occasionally 5 in the south of the area later. Smooth or slight, with a low swell at first. Isolated showers, gradually dying out. Good, occasionally moderate.