Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 161200UTC, low 57 north 24 west 965 expected 61 north 17 west 967 by 171200UTC. Low 65 north 09 west 979 losing its identity

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: High at first in northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic becoming south or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, sleet or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Firstly, northwesterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the northeast of West Central Section, between 51 north and 54 north until 162300UTC. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the north of West Central Section, east of 36 west, until 170500UTC. At 161200UTC, low 57 north 24 west 965 expected 61 north 17 west 967 by 171200UTC. Secondly, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast quadrant within 100 and 150 miles of the centre until 162300UTC. Lastly, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 150 miles of the Greenland coast, close to the ice, north of 67 north and south of 74 north throughout. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 in the northeast of Denmark Strait, north of 68 north, within 50 and 100 miles of the Greenland coast, from 162200UTC until 171600UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in northeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet or snow and wintry thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later, but variable 2 to 4 later in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in south.
Weather: Squally thundery showers, wintry in north.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor, but very poor in north.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in west.
Weather: Rain or drizzle until later in east, otherwise thundery showers, turning wintry in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Firstly, northwesterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the northeast of West Central Section, between 51 north and 54 north until 162300UTC. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the north of West Central Section, east of 36 west, until 170500UTC. At 161200UTC, low 57 north 24 west 965 expected 61 north 17 west 967 by 171200UTC. Secondly, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast quadrant within 100 and 150 miles of the centre until 162300UTC. Lastly, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 150 miles of the Greenland coast, close to the ice, north of 67 north and south of 74 north throughout. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 in the northeast of Denmark Strait, north of 68 north, within 50 and 100 miles of the Greenland coast, from 162200UTC until 171600UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, but storm 10 or violent storm 11 at first in northeast, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet and wintry showers, thundery at first in south and east.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Firstly, northwesterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the northeast of West Central Section, between 51 north and 54 north until 162300UTC. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the north of West Central Section, east of 36 west, until 170500UTC. At 161200UTC, low 57 north 24 west 965 expected 61 north 17 west 967 by 171200UTC. Secondly, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast quadrant within 100 and 150 miles of the centre until 162300UTC. Lastly, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 150 miles of the Greenland coast, close to the ice, north of 67 north and south of 74 north throughout. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 in the northeast of Denmark Strait, north of 68 north, within 50 and 100 miles of the Greenland coast, from 162200UTC until 171600UTC.

Wind: Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, but severe gale 9 or storm 10 in northeast, occasionally violent storm 11 in far northeast until later, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing in northwest of area throughout, with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Severe to very severe icing in far north throughout with temperatures ms06 to ms08.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 16 Mar 2026

Firstly, northwesterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the northeast of West Central Section, between 51 north and 54 north until 162300UTC. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the north of West Central Section, east of 36 west, until 170500UTC. At 161200UTC, low 57 north 24 west 965 expected 61 north 17 west 967 by 171200UTC. Secondly, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast quadrant within 100 and 150 miles of the centre until 162300UTC. Lastly, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 150 miles of the Greenland coast, close to the ice, north of 67 north and south of 74 north throughout. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 in the northeast of Denmark Strait, north of 68 north, within 50 and 100 miles of the Greenland coast, from 162200UTC until 171600UTC.

In northwest of area

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough but high in northwest.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor. Light to moderate icing in west of area throughout, with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Severe, occasionally very severe, icing in the far northwest of the area, close to the ice, throughout with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

In southeast of area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet or snow, then wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

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

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.