Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 311200UTC, low 55 north 50 west 997 expected 61 north 41 west 978 by 011200UTC. Low 67 north 11 west 984 expected 71 north 11 east 974 by same time. Low 65 north 34 west 995 losing its identity. High 46 north 14 west 1037, dissipating

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Wed 1 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough.
Weather: Squally rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwesterly veering northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming rough.
Weather: Squally rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in southeast, otherwise northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Squally rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but westerly 6 to gale 8 at first in north, becoming cyclonic, mainly southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Rain at first in southeast, otherwise wintry showers, then rain turning to sleet and snow later in west.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate occasionally very poor later.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026

At 311200UTC, low 55 north 50 west 997 expected 61 north 41 west 978 by 011200UTC. Southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast of West Northern Section from 010300UTC until 011300UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeastern quadrant, within 50 and 100 miles of the centre, from 011100UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the west of Denmark Strait, west of 34 west, from 011100UTC, strengthening to violent storm force 11 from 011500UTC.

In northeast of area

Wind: Westerly backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high later.
Weather: Occasional sleet and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor.

In southeast of area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Fair, then rain and sleet, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor.

In west of area

Wind: Southerly becoming cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in far north, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain, sleet and snow, then snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor. Occasional moderate icing at first in northwest, then light icing later.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in north, moderate or rough in south.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but high for a time in north.
Weather: Rain, turning to sleet in north, and wintry showers later in north.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor. Light icing later in far northwest.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026

At 311200UTC, low 55 north 50 west 997 expected 61 north 41 west 978 by 011200UTC. Southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast of West Northern Section from 010300UTC until 011300UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeastern quadrant, within 50 and 100 miles of the centre, from 011100UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the west of Denmark Strait, west of 34 west, from 011100UTC, strengthening to violent storm force 11 from 011500UTC.

In area west of 34 west

Wind: Westerly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, then northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10 later, increasing violent storm 11 at times later in far west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Fair then snow.
Visibility: Good becoming poor or very poor. Light to moderate icing with temperatures ms03 to ms06, then occasionally severe later with temperatures ms06 to ms07.

In rest of area

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly 6 to gale 8 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough but rough or very rough in south.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor. Moderate or severe icing at first in far northeast with temperatures ms08 to ms11. Occasional light or moderate icing in west, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southeast, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in west, rough or very rough in east.
Weather: Occasional snow, mainly north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing north of 67 north throughout, with temperatures ms03 to ms06. Severe or very severe icing in far northwest until later, with temperatures ms09 to ms12.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at first in southeast, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in southeast, otherwise good occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms are expected in Denmark Strait. Storms are expected in West Central Section. Severe gales are expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland and East Northern Section. Gales are expected in Rockall, East Central Section, West Central Section and north Iceland, with a risk of gales in Shannon.

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.