Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 011200UTC, low 63 north 03 west 997 expected 63 north 04 east 994 by 021200UTC. Lows 52 north 21 west 1008 and 51 north 38 west 1001 losing their identities by same time. at 011200UTC, low 56 north 40 west 1000 expected 58 north 26 west 986 by 021200UTC. High 66 north 18 west 1017 expected 72 north 13 west 1017 by same time

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 01 Sep 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 01 Sep 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Wed 02 Sep 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

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

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest veering southeast, 4 to 6, increasing 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later, veering easterly or northeasterly later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough, but slight in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in northeast, otherwise southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in northeast of the low.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in north, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair at first in northeast, otherwise rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Good at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches at first in northeast, showers later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at first in northeast.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic at first in north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, thundery at times in far south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

In area to the south of 68 north

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain in northwest and later also in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in northwest and later also in south.

In area to the north of 68 north

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Mainly fair, then rain or sleet at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

North Iceland

In southeast

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In northeast

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Occasional sleet then snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

In west

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, mainly southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, but 4 to 6 in far northeast, occasionally severe gale 9 in southwest, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales are expected in East Northern Section and West Northern Section. Gales are expected in Rockall, Bailey, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait.

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.