Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 070000UTC, low 55 north 51 west 985 expected 60 north 33 west 972 by 080000UTC. New low expected 58 north 35 west 972 by same time. Low 62 north 25 west 969 losing its identity. at 070000UTC, low 45 north 15 west 1004 expected 40 north 12 west 1005 by 080000UTC.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 8 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest later, 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southeasterly veering southerly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and later.
Sea state: High, occasionally very high at first in west, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic mainly south or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in northeast, becoming mainly very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, thundery and wintry at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

West Northern Section

In area to the north of 60 north

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far northwest, decreasing 4 to 6 at times in south and northeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally sleet and snow showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

In area to the south of 60 north

Wind: Mainly westerly 6 to gale 8, but cyclonic 4 to 6 in northwest, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 at times in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or sleet at first, then squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor,.

East Central Section

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far southeast, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far north, but decreasing 4 to 6 at times in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, but becoming fair, then rain in west and northeast, wintry showers later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, then squally sleet and snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good, but very poor at times later in northwest.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026

At 070000UTC. Low 969 62 north 25 west losing its identity. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10, occasionally violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast to the south of 70 north in the Denmark Strait until 071900UTC, and occasionally storm force 10 later in far southwest of Denmark Strait, near or over the ice, south of 66 north after 080300UTC.

In area within 100 miles of the greenland coast to the south of 70 north

Wind: Northeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing 7 to severe gale 9, but occasionally storm 10 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in east at first.
Weather: Sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor. Light or moderate icing, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, occasionally severe icing at first with temperature around ms05.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, sleet or snow at times, perhaps with thunder in south.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, but good at times later.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind: Cyclonic mainly easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at times mainly in west, decreasing 3 or 4 later except in far west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow showers, then sleet or snow moving northwards, with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first and later. Light or moderate icing developing in northwest, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, but 4 to 6 at first in northeast, then veering southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, but snow at first in north and later in west, mainly fair later in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east until later, but very poor at times at first in north and later in west.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east and later in west, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or rough, occasionally moderate until later in east.
Weather: Mainly fair, then rain in west later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm force winds expected in Denmark Strait and later in west of West Northern Section. Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Central Section, East Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Shannon, Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland and north Iceland.

Unscheduled storm warnings are broadcast via Safetynet and in bulletin WONT54 EGRR available via some internet and ftpmail outlets

The high seas forecast information

High seas forecasts are issued twice daily at 0930 and 2130 GMT and cover the next 24 hours and outlooks for the following 24 hours.

The part of the North Atlantic known as Metarea I is divided into twelve sea areas, six of which are also in the Shipping forecast.

The high seas forecast contains a general synopsis and sea-area forecasts containing forecast wind direction and force, weather and visibility for the next 24 hours with an outlook for the following 24 hours.

Marine forecasts disclaimer

In the UK, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for the provision of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) to ships at sea, which includes the broadcast of warnings and forecasts. The Met Office initiates warnings and prepares routine forecasts for dissemination on behalf of the MCA.

Caution: The internet is not part of the Maritime Safety Information system and should never be relied upon as the only means to obtain the latest forecast and warning information. Access to the service may be interrupted or delayed from time to time, updates may also be delayed.

Please refer to GMDSS services, INMARSAT SafetyNET or international NAVTEX for the latest information. When using these web pages, always check that the page on your screen is not from your cache. Use the Refresh or Reload button if in any doubt.