Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

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The general synopsis for UK

At 050000UTC, low 53 north 32 west 964 expected 57 north 12 west 973 by 060000UTC.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high in west.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Shannon

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in south.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In north

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far west.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025

At 050000UTC, low 53 north 32 west 964 expected 57 north 12 west 973 by 060000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 in southern quadrant between 200 and 400 miles of low centre until 051900UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in south, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later in far southwest.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025

At 050000UTC, low 53 north 32 west 964 expected 57 north 12 west 973 by 060000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 in southern quadrant between 200 and 400 miles of low centre until 051900UTC.

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in east, decreasing 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers, becoming wintry later in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light to moderate icing within 50 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

North Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far west, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry in north, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing within 50 miles of ice edge, below 72 north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force 11 expected in West Central Section. Severe gales expected in Sole, Shannon and West Northern Section. Gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, East Central Section and Denmark Strait.

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.