Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure will maintain mostly light to moderate breezes over the coastal waters, although the winds will freshen later in the period. Fog patches will affect some areas at first and a frontal trough will bring rain or drizzle at times to northern and western Scotland.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming northeast 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 or 4, decreasing 2 at times. Slight or moderate at first to the west and north of Orkney, but elsewhere smooth or slight. Rain at first, becoming fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or northeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fog patches, rain later in north. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Rain and fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming east or southeast 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or southeast backing northeast later, 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Rain and fog patches until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4, backing northeast 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair, fog patches later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 or 4, occasionally 2 at first. Smooth or slight, becoming slight, occasionally moderate later. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4, backing northeasterly 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in south. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 offshore. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate offshore. Fair. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and increasing 6 at times offshore. Slight, occasionally moderate offshore. Fair. Moderate or good.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later, becoming variable 3 or less at times in east. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lyme Regis to Lands End including the Isles of Scilly

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in west, and variable 3 or less at times in lyme bay. Smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in west. Fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 offshore. Smooth or slight at first in lyme bay, otherwise slight or moderate. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

Lands End to St Davids Head including the Bristol Channel

24 hour forecast: Easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in west, becoming variable 3 or less for a time in Bristol Channel. Slight, occasionally smooth in Bristol Channel, and moderate at times later in northwest. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but 2 at times at first in Bristol Channel, occasionally 6 later in Bristol Channel. Slight, occasionally moderate in west and smooth at first in Bristol Channel. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in west, but variable 2 at times in Cardigan Bay and caernarfon bay. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate later in far south. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly northerly veering easterly or northeasterly later, 3 to 5, but 2 at times in Cardigan Bay and caernarfon bay. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate until later in far south. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or northeast 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Showers later in north. Good, occasionally moderate later in north.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming north 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in places. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North veering east or northeast later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Smooth or slight. Fair. Good.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: North 2 to 4, backing northwest 3 to 5 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate in north. Fog patches and drizzle at first in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: North or northwest, veering east or northeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 for a time. Slight or moderate until later in north, otherwise smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good, occasionally moderate.

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

24 hour forecast: Northerly 2 to 4, backing northwesterly 3 to 5, veering northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4 later. Smooth or slight. Fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 for a time. Mainly smooth or slight, but occasionally moderate near the Mull of Kintyre. Showers for a time. Good, occasionally moderate.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northerly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first and 6 at times in west, veering northeasterly later. Smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura, but elsewhere slight or moderate. Rain at times, and fog patches until later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly veering easterly or northeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time in west. Smooth or slight to the east of islay and jura, but elsewhere slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate near entrances. Rain or fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in north. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first near entrances. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Mainly moderate. Rain or fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first in north. Slight or moderate, becoming slight later. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4, becoming mainly northwest, occasionally variable 2 to 4. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Occasional rain and fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

For Coastal areas up to 60 nautical miles from Lerwick, Shetland - Strong wind warning

Valid Friday 10 Jul 2026 at 0600 UTC until Friday 10 Jul 2026 at 1800 UTC

General situation: A moist westerly or southwesterly flow covers Shetland Waters at first. High pressure extends east across Shetland Waters through Friday into Saturday.

Forecast: West or southwest 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate, but smooth in sheltered waters just east of shetland. Occasional rain, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1800 UTC on Friday 10 Jul until 0600 UTC on Saturday 11 Jul: Variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate, but smooth in sheltered waters just east of shetland. Occasional rain and fog patches at first. Otherwise mainly fair. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Northeast 3 to 4, increasing 4 to 5 from midday, with gusts locally to 35kt by dusk, perhaps 6 mid-channel later. Smooth or slight, increasing slight to moderate after dusk. Fair or fine. Good or very good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East to northeast 4 to 5 with gusts to 35kt, locally 6 from mid-morning, increasing 5 to 6 later. Slight to moderate, perhaps rather rough mid-channel later. A risk of isolated thunderstorms in the far south of the area in the afternoon and evening a risk of mist patches in the north towards dawn on Sunday. Good or very good, perhaps locally moderate or poor.