Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 121200UTC, low 41 north 64 west 1001 expected 47 north 40 west 981 by 131200UTC. Low 53 north 15 west 995 expected 64 north 06 west 972 by same time. Low 62 north 41 west 962 expected 62 north 38 west 972 by that time. at 121200UTC, low 49 north 56 west 998 expected 54 north 32 west 988 by 131200UTC

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Oct 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps storm 10 later, becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches, squally showers later.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor, becoming good occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 in south, then cyclonic, mainly southerly, 7 to severe gale 9, later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain and showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate occasionally poor later in southwest.

West Northern Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026

At 121200UTC, low 41 north 64 west 1001 expected 47 north 40 west 981 by 131200UTC. Southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 400 miles of centre in the southeast semicircle from 131000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm 11 within 100 miles of centre in the southeast quadrant from 131300UTC. Secondly, southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Norwegian coast, south of 63 north, in Norwegian Basin, from 130400UTC until 131400UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, between 64 north and 66 north, until 130400UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, but gale 8 to storm 10 at first in far northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026

At 121200UTC, low 41 north 64 west 1001 expected 47 north 40 west 981 by 131200UTC. Southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 400 miles of centre in the southeast semicircle from 131000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm 11 within 100 miles of centre in the southeast quadrant from 131300UTC. Secondly, southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Norwegian coast, south of 63 north, in Norwegian Basin, from 130400UTC until 131400UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, between 64 north and 66 north, until 130400UTC.

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6 in southeast, otherwise 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
Weather: Showers, squally at first in north, rain later in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in north.

West Central Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026

At 121200UTC, low 41 north 64 west 1001 expected 47 north 40 west 981 by 131200UTC. Southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 400 miles of centre in the southeast semicircle from 131000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm 11 within 100 miles of centre in the southeast quadrant from 131300UTC. Secondly, southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Norwegian coast, south of 63 north, in Norwegian Basin, from 130400UTC until 131400UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, between 64 north and 66 north, until 130400UTC.

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later in southeast, occasionally violent storm 11 later in southeast.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026

At 121200UTC, low 41 north 64 west 1001 expected 47 north 40 west 981 by 131200UTC. Southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 400 miles of centre in the southeast semicircle from 131000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm 11 within 100 miles of centre in the southeast quadrant from 131300UTC. Secondly, southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Norwegian coast, south of 63 north, in Norwegian Basin, from 130400UTC until 131400UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, between 64 north and 66 north, until 130400UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9, severe gale 9 or storm 10 at first in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but very rough or high at first in west.
Weather: Rain or showers, but sleet and snow in northwest.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate, but moderate occasionally very poor in northwest. Light or moderate icing in far north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west and later in east.
Weather: Occasional rain, drizzle and fog patches, snow in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in far northwest with temperatures ms04 to ms07, then occasional severe icing in far northwest with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

Norwegian Basin

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026

At 121200UTC, low 41 north 64 west 1001 expected 47 north 40 west 981 by 131200UTC. Southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 400 miles of centre in the southeast semicircle from 131000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm 11 within 100 miles of centre in the southeast quadrant from 131300UTC. Secondly, southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Norwegian coast, south of 63 north, in Norwegian Basin, from 130400UTC until 131400UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, between 64 north and 66 north, until 130400UTC.

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in southeast, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, fog patches at first in west, squally showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor, but very poor at first in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Hurricane force winds are expected in East Northern Section. Violent storms are expected in Bailey and Southeast Iceland. Storms are expected in Rockall, Faeroes, East Central Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales are expected in Sole, Shannon and West Northern Section.

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.