Inshore waters forecast and strong winds

General situation

Unsettled weather conditions will prevail across much of the United Kingdom into the weekend, as showers or longer spells of rain move in from the south and southwest. Some of these will be heavy and thundery, and fog patches will also affect some coastlines. Winds will be relatively light, but strong perhaps gale force winds will develop for a time on Sunday in the southwest.

Cape Wrath to Rattray Head including Orkney

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4 until later in northwest and in Moray Firth, otherwise easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5. Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery, fog banks developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rattray Head to Berwick upon Tweed

24 hour forecast: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, but becoming variable 3 or less for a time, except in far north. Slight, occasionally smooth in Firth of Forth. Showers, perhaps thundery, fog banks for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly for a time, 3 to 5. Slight, becoming slight or moderate for a time. Showers, perhaps thundery, fog banks developing. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Berwick upon Tweed to Whitby

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 3 or 4, becoming variable 3 or less for a time, increasing occasionally 5 later. Slight, occasionally smooth at first. Showers, thundery at times, fog banks at first, rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East becoming cyclonic, then southeast, 2 to 4. Slight or moderate. Thundery rain or showers until later, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Whitby to Gibraltar Point

24 hour forecast: East or southeast 2 to 4, occasionally variable 2 to 4. Slight, occasionally smooth until later. Showers, then rain later, thundery at times, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic becoming southeast, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 for a time. Slight. Thundery showers or rain, but becoming fair for a time, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Gibraltar Point to North Foreland

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in south. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers or thundery rain. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5. Slight, occasionally smooth. Showers, perhaps thundery, but becoming fair for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Foreland to Selsey Bill

24 hour forecast: Variable becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southerly 3 or 4 later. Smooth or slight. Thundery rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 for a time. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate. Thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

Selsey Bill to Lyme Regis

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less for a time, becoming southwest 3 to 5, then backing southeast later. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in west. Thundery rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast veering southwest for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time. Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough for a time. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming south 3 to 5, backing southeast 5 to 7 later. Smooth at first in east, otherwise slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west. Showers, thundery rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South or southeast veering southwest, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 for a time, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west. Slight or moderate in west, smooth or slight in Bristol Channel. Showers, thundery rain later. Good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later. Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far southwest. Rain or thundery showers. Good, occasionally poor.

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

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming east 2 to 4 later, occasionally 5 later in south. Smooth or slight, moderate later near st david's head. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight, but moderate near st david's head. Showers or rain, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good.

Great Orme Head to the Mull of Galloway

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers. Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: East or northeast 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5 for a time, then variable 3 or less later. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery. Good, occasionally moderate.

Isle of Man

24 hour forecast: South 2 to 4, becoming variable 3 or less. Smooth or slight. Mainly fair. Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Mainly east 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Risk of rain at times. Good, perhaps moderate.

Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly, 3 or 4 for a time. Smooth or slight. Showers, fog patches for a time in east. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers later in south. Moderate or good.

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

24 hour forecast: Southeasterly becoming variable later, 2 to 4. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later, fog patches for a time. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 2 to 4. Smooth, occasionally slight. Showers later in south. Moderate or good.

Mull of Kintyre to Ardnamurchan Point

24 hour forecast: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5 for a time in south. Slight or moderate at first near Tiree, otherwise smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery later, fog patches. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times. Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later in west. Mainly fair. Moderate or good.

The Minch

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming mainly easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Smooth or slight. Showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic mainly northeasterly until later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in far north. Smooth or slight. Thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Ardnamurchan Point to Cape Wrath

24 hour forecast: Variable 3 or less, becoming mainly easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later in north. Moderate at first and later in west, otherwise slight. Showers, perhaps thundery. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: Cyclonic mainly northeasterly until later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in far north. Slight or moderate. Thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shetland Isles

24 hour forecast: Southeast 3 or 4. Slight or moderate, becoming slight. Showers, fog banks. Good, occasionally very poor.

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

Valid Saturday 19 Jul 2025 at 0000 UTC until Saturday 19 Jul 2025 at 1200 UTC

General situation: Shallow Atlantic low will drift northwards across Iceland and complex lows over the southern British Isles maintain a moist southeasterly airflow across Shetland Waters.

Forecast: South or southeast 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first Slight, occasionally moderate at first in southwest. Showers. Fog banks, mainly in west. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for 12 Hours from 1200 UTC on Saturday 19 Jul until 0000 UTC on Sunday 20 Jul: Southeast 3 or 4. Slight. Showers. Fog banks, mainly in west. Good, occasionally very poor.

Channel Islands - Strong wind warning

24 hour forecast: West to northwest 3 to 4, becoming variable 1 to 3 after midday, then backing south to southeast 3 to 4 by evening, increasing 5 to 6 later. Smooth or slight with a low swell, increasing moderate later. Showers, locally heavy, and thundery in the southeast, clearing mid-morning further rain or showers spreading northeast from early evening. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours: South to southeast 5 to 6, perhaps occasionally 7, veering southwest 4 to 5 by midday, perhaps locally 6 later. Mainly moderate, but rather rough to rough in the northwest until early afternoon, becoming slight to moderate with a low to moderate swell later. Rain or showers, locally heavy, perhaps thundery at first. Good, occasionally moderate to poor.