Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 111200UTC, low northeast Shannon 974 slow-moving, filling 982 by 121200UTC. New low expected 51 north 23 west 991 and 64 north 04 east 985 by same time. Low 48 north 41 west 989 losing its identity

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Thu 12 Feb 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northwesterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming high for a time in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: In south, cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8. in north, northeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: In south, very rough. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: In south, rain or showers. in north, rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing northerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southeast, becoming moderate later in north.
Weather: Rain at first in far southeast, otherwise showers, turning to sleet or snow in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in north and then variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in north.
Weather: Rain showers at first in south, otherwise sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

In area to the north of 52 north

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly veering northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough later in north and west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

In area to the south of 52 north

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east and north, backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then veering northwesterly later.
Sea state: High at first in east, otherwise very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally or thundery at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Central Section

In area to the south of 51 north

Wind: Cyclonic mainly southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, and also at first in northeast, but decreasing 3 to 5 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

In area to the north of 51 north

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in far north, then veering easterly 3 or 4 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northeasterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing later within 150 miles of the greenland coast to the south of 68 north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic in south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 except in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow or snow showers, except in far northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor except in far northwest. Light or moderate icing at times except in far southeast, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe icing at first in northwest, mainly near the ice, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

Norwegian Basin

In western half of the area

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly later in north, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet, snow or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

In eastern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first except in far northeast, then increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet, snow or wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm force winds expected in Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in Sole, Shannon and West Central Section. Gales expected in Rockall, West Northern 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.