Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 081200UTC, low 64 north 06 west 999 expected 67 north 01 east 1004 by 091200UTC. High 55 north 34 west 1032 expected 55 north 28 west 1038 by same time

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 08 May 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 08 May 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 09 May 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in east and very rough in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough at times in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first and moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far west, otherwise northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in far southwest, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain except in far south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

West Northern Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far southeast, otherwise cyclonic in northwest and southerly or southwesterly elsewhere, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times in southwest and later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain in north and far west, but sleet, snow and freezing rain with fog patches in far northwest near greenland.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north and far west and very poor in far northwest near greenland. Occasional light icing developing near greenland.

East Central Section

In far northwest

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

In rest of area

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southwest and 5 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, squally at times, becoming mainly fair in north and west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming mainly good in north and west.

West Central Section

In east

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in far north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 until later in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southeast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

In west

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in south and 7 in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet and snow in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.

North Iceland

In northeast

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers, then occasional sleet and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing developing with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

In southeast

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in north and severe gale 9 at first in south, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7 later, then decreasing 3 to 5 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet at first in east, otherwise snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor at first in east, otherwise good, occasionally poor.

In southwest

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming mainly northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in east and slight in west.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

In northwest

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in southeast.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light or moderate icing later in east with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far northeast, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate at first in far northeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, East Central Section and Norwegian Basin.

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

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.