Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

An area of low pressure currently centred over Scotland will move away slowly northeastwards during the next 24 hours. Winds will remain strong, perhaps touching gale force in some northern areas, and there will be further rain or showers for many northern and western parts, especially across Scotland.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 at first except in far north, otherwise northeasterly backing northerly 4 to 6, then backing northwesterly later and increasing 7 at times in east. Moderate or rough in north, and later also near Aberdeenshire, otherwise slight or moderate. Rain or showers, thundery for a time in south, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southwest 3 to 5 later. Moderate or rough at first near Aberdeenshire, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate later.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: South or southwest 3 to 5 veering west or southwest 4 to 6, then west or northwest 5 to 7 later. Slight or moderate, becoming rough later near Rattray Head. Showers, becoming thundery for a time. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 3 or 4 later. Rough at first near Rattray Head and smooth or slight in Firth of Forth, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 3 or 4 veering west 5 to 7, then northwest 4 to 6 later. Slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less, then west or southwest 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwest 4 or 5 veering west 5 or 6. Slight, becoming moderate in north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6 becoming variable 3 or less, then west 3 or 4 later. Moderate in north, slight in south. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering westerly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight in south and in The Wash. Showers for a time at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, veering northwesterly 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate at first near eastern and northern Norfolk, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers for a time. Good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate occasionally rough for a time. Showers at first. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Fair. Good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering northwest 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate. Showers at first. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 2 to 4, backing west or southwest 3 to 5 for a time. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight later. Mainly fair. Good.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 3 later. Rough at first near the Isles of Scilly, otherwise slight or moderate. Showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 2 to 4, becoming variable 2 or less later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers at first. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or northwest 4 to 6. Moderate in west, slight or moderate in east. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 5 backing west 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less later. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest, veering northwest later, 4 to 6. Moderate in south, slight or moderate in north. Showers, becoming fair later. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5 backing west or southwest 2 to 4. Slight or moderate becoming smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then veering northwest later. Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere moderate occasionally rough. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 2 to 4. Moderate, becoming smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in east, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later. Moderate. Mainly fair then rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north. Slight or moderate, becoming rough for a time in far north. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight except in far north. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

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

24 hour forecast: Southwesterly veering northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time except in far north. Smooth or slight in far north, elsewhere mainly slight or moderate, but becoming rough for a time near the Mull of Kintyre. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southwesterly 3 or 4 later. Slight or moderate at first except in far north, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers. Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 3 to 5 again later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first in east, then becoming moderate or rough for a time. Rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 5 backing west 2 to 4, then southwest 3 to 5 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Showers, then rain later in north. Good, occasionally moderate.

The Minch - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming slight or moderate later. Rain, then showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing southwest 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth or slight for a time. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first near Sutherland, otherwise northerly or northeasterly backing northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4 later. Moderate or rough, occasionally slight between Barra and Canna. Rain, then showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest backing southwest 2 to 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth between Barra and Canna. Showers, then rain later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Shetland Isles - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast, backing north later, 4 to 6. Moderate. Rain at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

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

Valid Wednesday 05 Aug 2026 at 0600 UTC until Wednesday 05 Aug 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: Low pressure over mainland Scotland will move slowly east into the North Sea on Wednesday.

Forecast: Northeast 5 or 6 Moderate, occasionally rough in south Rain at times Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Wednesday 05 Aug until 0600 UTC on Thursday 06 Aug: Northeast backing north, 5 to 7 Moderate, occasionally rough in south and east Rain at times Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 4 to 5, decreasing 3 to 4 overnight. Slight to moderate, with a low swell. Isolated showers. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northwest 3 to 4, veering northeast 2 to 3 overnight. Slight decreasing mainly smooth, with a low and diminishing swell. Risk of isolated showers in the morning. Good.