Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Low pressure centred over western Ireland will move slowly northeast across Scotland on Wednesday. This will bring rain or showers at times to many northern and western coastlines, as well as some isolated showers to the southeast. Winds will strengthen and become strong in places, particularly on Wednesday.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly in north, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Rain at times, perhaps thundery later, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first and very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight or moderate occasionally rough. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, veering southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain then thundery showers, fog patches later in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in north. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north. Thundery showers, fog patches in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and very poor in north.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, veering south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Occasional rain then thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South 3 to 5, veering southwest 5 to 7, then west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight occasionally moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 or 5 later. Slight, occasionally moderate at first in north. Showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwest, veering west later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. Slight occasionally moderate. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6. Slight, occasionally smooth at first in south, becoming moderate at times in east. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near North Foreland. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east and later in west. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers later. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first, veering west 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Fair then showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in inner Bristol Channel. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6. Moderate, occasionally slight in east. Showers. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southerly 3 to 5, veering southwesterly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight at first in far north, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: East or southeast veering south or southwest, 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate. Showers, thundery at times, fog patches at first in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering northwest 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Occasional rain or showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast veering south, 4 to 6, veering west or southwest 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later. Occasional rain, becoming fair. Moderate or poor, becoming good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 5 or 6 later. Moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly later, 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in far northwest. Slight, occasionally moderate in south and later in north. Occasional rain or thundery showers, fog patches at first in south. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at first in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far north. Rain at times, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly veering southerly, then westerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. Slight, occasionally moderate in the North Channel and smooth elsewhere. Occasional rain or thundery showers, fog patches at first in south. Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at first in south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough near the Mull of Galloway and Mull of Kintyre. Occasional rain, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west and later in south. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming northwest 6 or 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in west and south. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 except in far north. Smooth or slight in southeast, slight or moderate in north and west. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly 5 to 7, then northwesterly 4 later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate, occasionally rough in north. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 in far south. Moderate, occasionally slight in south and rough in north. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far south, otherwise northeasterly backing northerly, 5 to 7, backing northwesterly 4 or 5 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in south. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or northeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate later. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

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

Valid Tuesday 04 Aug 2026 at 0600 UTC until Tuesday 04 Aug 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: East or northeasterly flow expected on Tuesday and Wednesday as low pressure across Ireland on Tuesday drifts northeast to lie over Scotland on Wednesday.

Forecast: East or southeast 3 or 4, backing east or northeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate Rain at times Good, occasionally moderate

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Tuesday 04 Aug until 0600 UTC on Wednesday 05 Aug: Easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 in north at first. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far south Rain at times Good, occasionally moderate, or poor later

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 to 4, locally variable 1 to 2 from midday, backing west 4 to 5 around dusk. Smooth to slight, increasing slight to moderate in the evening, with a low swell at first. Isolated showers mist patches at first. Good, perhaps occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West to northwest 4 to 5. Slight to moderate. Isolated showers. Good or very good, perhaps occasionally moderate.