Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 281200UTC, low 58 north 47 west 959 expected 64 north 18 west 979 by 291200UTC. Low 71 north 06 west 988 expected 72 north 01 east 987 by same time. New low expected 66 north 13 west 976 by that time. Low 63 north 02 east 991 losing its identity. at 281200UTC 48 north 17 west 1041 expected 4 or 5 north 17 west 1042 by 291200UTC.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northerly backing westerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Bailey

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming westerly later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming westerly later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

At 281200UTC, low 58 north 47 west 959 expected 64 north 18 west 979 by 291200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in southern quadrant between 100 and 400 miles from centre throughout. Also easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in far northwest of West Northern Section and Denmark Strait until 291300UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming westerly or southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain and snow then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

At 281200UTC, low 58 north 47 west 959 expected 64 north 18 west 979 by 291200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in southern quadrant between 100 and 400 miles from centre throughout. Also easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in far northwest of West Northern Section and Denmark Strait until 291300UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Snow or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good. Light or moderate icing in northwest, occasional severe icing near ice edge.

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but very rough or high in north.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 occasionally severe gale 9 in north, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in south, very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in north.
Weather: Occasional rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

At 281200UTC, low 58 north 47 west 959 expected 64 north 18 west 979 by 291200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in southern quadrant between 100 and 400 miles from centre throughout. Also easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in far northwest of West Northern Section and Denmark Strait until 291300UTC.

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in west, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather: Snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing within 50 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms03 to ms06, occasional severe or very severe icing near ice edge with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly later in north, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain and snow, snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Light to moderate icing in north with temperatures ms03 to ms06, occasional severe or very severe icing near ice edge with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm 10 expected in East Northern Section and West Northern Section. Severe gales expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Faeroes, West Central Section, East Central Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.

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.