Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

High pressure across the British Isles giving a good deal of fine weather, slowly drifting east as a thundery low gradually moves in from the southwest later on Thursday and into Friday. Fog patches will affect some North Sea coasts and later some southwestern coasts, and cloudier conditions with outbreaks of rain across the northwest of Scotland will edge southeast and turn thundery.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, then veering easterly or northeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in far east. Slight or moderate in northwest and becoming slight or moderate near Rattray Head, elsewhere smooth or slight. Occasional rain, becoming thundery at times, fog patches in east. Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west and very poor in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Slight or moderate in northwest, elsewhere smooth or slight. Rain at times, perhaps thundery, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally poor and very poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east, becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Occasional drizzle, thundery showers later, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeasterly veering southerly or southeasterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later. Slight occasionally smooth in south. Thundery rain or showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Southeast 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4. Smooth or slight becoming slight or moderate for a time. Thundery showers, fog patches at first. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 or 4 later. Slight occasionally smooth later. Thundery rain or showers, fog patches in north. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. Slight, occasionally smooth at first and moderate later. Thundery showers later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Easterly veering southeasterly then southwesterly later, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly becoming variable later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in south. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate at first in far south. Showers later. Good occasionally moderate later.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Easterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later. Slight occasionally moderate. Showers perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Slight or moderate, becoming smooth later. Showers perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East becoming cyclonic then west or southwest later, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers, fog patches later. Good, occasionally poor and later very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less. Slight, occasionally moderate at first, becoming smooth later. Mainly fair. Good.

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

24 hour forecast: East becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then south or southwest 3 to 5. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly, veering southwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far west. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in east. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly veering southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 for a time at first. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west. Thundery showers, fog patches. Good, occasionally poor or very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west. Rain or showers later in west. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: East becoming cyclonic then southwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first also towards end of period. Smooth or slight. Showers perhaps thundery. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in west. Rain or showers later in west. Good, occasionally moderate or poor later.

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

24 hour forecast: Easterly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic then southwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in north and far southwest. Rain or showers. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Isle of Man - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 to 5, veering south or southwest 4 to 6 later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later. Showers, fog patches later. Good, occasionally poor or very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southwest, backing southeast for a time, 4 to 6. Slight or moderate. Fog patches at first. Good, occasionally poor or very poor at first.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate in far northwest. Occasional rain or showers, thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth at first. Occasional rain or showers, thundery at times. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers, thundery later. Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly 4 to 6. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers, thundery at times. Good, occasionally poor.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far north. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Occasional rain, becoming thundery at times. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast 2 to 4, veering southeast 4 to 6. Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in sheltered east. Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5, then veering northeast 4 or 5 later. Smooth or slight. Rain at times, perhaps becoming thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast, veering south or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Smooth or slight. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming north 3 to 5, then veering northeast 4 or 5 later. Slight or moderate. Rain at times, perhaps becoming thundery. Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Northeast, veering south or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north. Slight or moderate. Occasional rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly, veering westerly or northwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in far southeast. Slight or moderate. Thunder rain at first. Good occasionally moderate or poor at first.

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

Valid Thursday 25 Jun 2026 at 1800 UTC until Friday 26 Jun 2026 at 0600 UTC

General situation: Atlantic trough will move east across Shetland Waters early on Friday. Ridge of high pressure will then build from the west.

Forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later in far southeast, veering westerly later in west Slight or moderate Thundery rain, fair later Good, occasionally moderate or poor

Outlook for 12 Hours from 0600 UTC on Friday 26 Jun until 1800 UTC on Friday 26 Jun: Westerly or northwesterly veering northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, but southwesterly at first east Slight or moderate Fair Good

Channel Islands

24 hour forecast: Cyclonic 4 to 5, with gusts to 40kt with thundery showers, becoming westerly 4 to 5 by midnight, then variable 1 to 3 by midday. Smooth or slight. Squally thundery showers, perhaps with hail, clearing by around midnight a risk of mist or fog patches around dawn. Good, locally moderate or poor, perhaps very poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 1 to 3, occasionally northerly 3 to 4 in the south of the area. Smooth or slight. The chance of thundery showers from midnight. Good, perhaps locally moderate or poor.