Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure will continue to move eastwards over the British Isles tonight, bringing further rain and showers, though it will be generally drier towards the southeast. A second low will then approach the northwest on Wednesday bringing rain and drizzle, strengthening winds, and gales to northern waters later on Wednesday into Thursday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate until later in northwest, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches in east, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor but very poor at first in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then west 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in northwest and far east. Rain then showers. Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor but very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6, veering west 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate, then moderate or rough later in far north. Rain then showers. Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery at first, rain later. Good, occasionally poor but moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, veering west 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Rain then showers. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers at first, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 or 6, veering west or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain at first. Good, occasionally poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers at first, perhaps thundery in far north. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north. Fair then occasional rain. Good occasionally moderate.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly, 3 or 4, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth in east, becoming slight or moderate later in west. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time. Slight at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate. Occasional rain later. Good occasionally moderate later.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 5 or 6 for a time, veering northwesterly 3 or 4 later in west. Slight or moderate. Fair then occasional rain and drizzle until later. Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: West or southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate, but rough at first in far west. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Fair then occasional rain, drizzle and fog patches until later. Good, becoming moderate to very poor for a time.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 3 to 5, backing southwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate, but slight in east and rough at first west of Lands End. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 3 or 4 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Fair then rain, drizzle and fog patches for a time. Good, becoming moderate to very poor for a time.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly 3 or 4, veering northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 at first in north, veering northwesterly 3 to 5, then backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Rain and drizzle at first. Moderate to poor, becoming good.

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

24 hour forecast: South veering northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Rain and drizzle, showers later. Moderate to poor, becoming good.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 or 4, veering west or northwest, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight becoming slight or moderate later. Fair, occasional rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 5 or 6 later. Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate later. Occasional rain at first, then fair. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwest 3 or 4, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time in south. Showers, perhaps thundery at first, rain and drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest veering west 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in north. Rain and drizzle, then showers. Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable be northwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly 5 to 7 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in the North Channel. Showers, rain and drizzle later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly veering westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight to the north and east of the isle of arran, slight or moderate elsewhere, but rough at times later in the North Channel. Rain and drizzle, then showers. Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming northwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in northwest. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth until later east of islay and jura, becoming moderate or rough later in far west. Showers, rain and drizzle later. Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time in west. Rain and drizzle, then showers. Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly north, 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth or slight until later in central areas. Showers, rain and drizzle later. Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then west 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough near entrances. Rain or drizzle, then showers. Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable, mainly north, 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later. Moderate occasionally slight, becoming moderate or rough later in south. Showers, rain and drizzle later. Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate or poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeast becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then west 4 to 6 later. Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time in southwest. Rain or drizzle, then showers. Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Occasional rain, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor but very poor for a time in east.

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

Valid Tuesday 30 Jun 2026 at 1800 UTC until Wednesday 01 Jul 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: A shallow area of low pressure moves east over Scotland on Tuesday, then a ridge follows through Wednesday morning ahead of a new area of low pressure moving east over Scotland later on Wednesday.

Forecast: Southerly 2 to 4 becoming variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate, but smooth in sheltered waters east of shetland. Occasional rain. Fog patches. Good or moderate, occasionally poor or very poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Wednesday 01 Jul until 1800 UTC on Wednesday 01 Jul: Variable 3 or less becoming south or southeast 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, but smooth in sheltered waters east of shetland. Occasional rain and fog patches at first, then mainly fair. Good or moderate, occasionally poor or very poor at first.

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West 2 to 4, veering northwest tomorrow afternoon, perhaps 5 at times. Locally smooth at first, otherwise slight with a low swell. Risk of showers at first. Good or very good, perhaps locally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 3 to 4, occasionally 5. Slight to moderate, with a low swell. Risk of drizzle, light rain and mist or fog patches from dawn, clearing later. Good or very good, perhaps locally moderate to very poor.