Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure will affect the northern UK through the period, while a ridge of high pressure will extend into the Southwest Approaches. This will maintain a generally westerly flow with fresher winds and more showery weather focused in the north, but it will be mainly fair over southern waters.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Slight or moderate west and north of Orkney and at first near Rattray Head, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly at times in north 3 to 5, occasionally 2 for a time. Slight or moderate west and north of Orkney, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first around Rattray Head. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering northwesterly 2 for a time in north. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: West 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 3 or 4, occasionally 5 offshore. Smooth or slight. Showers. Mainly good.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: West or northwest becoming variable at times, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest becoming variable at times, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic mainly northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in north, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first in north.

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

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, veering northerly 3 or 4, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first and later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest becoming variable for a time, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first offshore. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first offshore and 2 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly northwest 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first offshore, becoming variable at times later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly for a time, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, backing southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later in south. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Mainly good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Westerly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first. Smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly backing southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in north. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming west 2 to 4, backing southwest 4 occasionally 5 later. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Westerly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first and later for a time in south. Smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly veering northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near Mull of Kintyre. Showers. Good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 2 to 4. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West veering northwest 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first. Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5. Mainly moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. Moderate, occasionally rough later in northwest, but smooth or slight in lee shelter of Shetland. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

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

Valid Friday 31 Jul 2026 at 0000 UTC until Friday 31 Jul 2026 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Showery west or southwesterly flow covers Shetland Waters

Forecast: West backing southwest 4 to 6 Slight or moderate. smooth in sheltered waters east of shetland. Rain or showers Mainly good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Friday 31 Jul until 0000 UTC on Saturday 01 Aug: Southwest 4 to 6 Moderate, but slight in sheltered waters east of shetland and occasionally rough in northwest Showers Good occasionally moderate.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 3 to 4, locally 5 at times. Smooth or slight, moderate in the west of the area at first. Risk of mist patches in the north until dawn risk of isolated light showers. Good or very good, perhaps locally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North to northwest 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 by dawn Saturday, locally 5 especially in the southeast by mid afternoon, veering northeast 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fair or fine. Good or very good.