Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

A ridge of high pressure over the south of the British Isles will continue to bring mainly fair conditions to southern waters. Further north it will remain more unsettled as a mainly westerly or southwesterly flow brings Atlantic fronts and outbreaks of rain or drizzle, although tending to ease during Wednesday as the ridge slowly builds northwards. Fog patches will affect some western waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Westerly 4 or 5 at first in south, otherwise variable, becoming southwesterly later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in northwest. Slight or moderate to the west and north of Orkney and at first near Rattray Head, otherwise smooth or slight. Occasional rain and drizzle, fog patches later in northwest. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later in northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southeast, occasionally 6 later in northwest. Slight or moderate to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches in north, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later in north.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, but 5 to 7 at first in south, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north. Slight occasionally moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Occasional rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 in north, westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 in south. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle at first. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near Berwick upon Tweed. Occasional rain. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest becoming variable, 2 to 4. Slight occasionally smooth. Mainly fair. Good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. Slight occasionally smooth. Occasional rain in north. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Slight occasionally smooth. Fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable, becoming southeasterly later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth occasionally slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable mainly northeasterly, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: West or northwest, backing southwest for a time, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 near Selsey Bill. Smooth occasionally slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Fair. Moderate or good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Variable, becoming north or northwest later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair, but fog patches in far west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest becoming variable, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in west.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Mainly west 3 to 5 in Bristol Channel, but elsewhere variable mainly west or northwest, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth in north. Fog patches until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 except in far north. Smooth occasionally slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Westerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north. Smooth or slight. Fair then occasional rain in north. Good, occasionally moderate in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth, occasionally slight at first in south. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later. Mainly slight, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less. Smooth. Fair. Mainly good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in northeast and then later elsewhere. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle mainly north, fog patches in far northwest. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north, but very poor in far northwest.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, occasionally 4 at first. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, mainly north, fog patches at first in north, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near arran northwards, becoming variable 2 to 4 in south and also later in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate until later near the Mull of Kintyre. Occasional rain or drizzle. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches at first in the North Channel, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first but very poor at first in the North Channel.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, decreasing 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly in north, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in south. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight east of islay and jura. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches at first, becoming fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight in central areas. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: West backing southwest, 3 to 5. Moderate, occasionally slight near Sutherland and rough at first in far southwest. Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches, becoming mainly fair later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: North or northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 2 to 4 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Valid Tuesday 07 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC until Tuesday 07 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Atlantic frontal system to the south of Shetland clearing south as a ridge of high pressure builds from the west later

Forecast: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in northeast Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast, occasionally rough later northeast Occasional rain in south at first, otherwise mainly fair, showers in north for a time Good, occasionally moderate in south

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Tuesday 07 Jul until 0000 UTC on Wednesday 08 Jul: Northwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in east, backing southerly or southwesterly later Slight or moderate Fair Good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Variable 1 to 2, locally 3, becoming mainly northwest by midday, perhaps locally 4 in the east of the area later. Smooth, locally slight. A risk of mist or fog patches. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly 2 to 3, occasionally variable 1 to 2, locally 4 in the south and east of the area around dusk. Smooth, locally slight. A risk of mist or fog patches, mainly near french coast. Good, perhaps locally poor or very poor.