Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 260000UTC, low 48 north 49 west 985 expected 51 north 44 west 996 by 270000uc. Low 41 north 23 west 1020 losing its identity by same time. High 64 north 03 west 1027 expected 64 north 08 east with little change by that time. at 260000UTC new low expected 62 north 38 west 990 by 270000UTC. New high expected 52 north 12 west 1027 by same time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 until later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: In south, southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4. in north, southwesterly veering westerly, 2 to 4.
Sea state: In south, slight or moderate. in north, slight or moderate.
Weather: In south, showers. in north, showers.
Visibility: In south, good, occasionally moderate. in north, good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Southwesterly, but southeasterly at first in north, veering westerly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, but moderate or rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

East Northern Section

Wind: Southwesterly, but southeasterly at first in north, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair later in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northeast of area

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

In northwest of area

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough in far north and later elsewhere.
Weather: Rain, sleet and snow, moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
Visibility: Occasional light icing in northwest.

In south of the area

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in north, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
Weather: Fog banks at first in north, otherwise occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Very poor at first in north, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 to 6 in west.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers at first in east, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first in east.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in east, becoming variable 3 or 4 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in east.
Weather: Rain or drizzle for a time, fog patches developing later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in northwest.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026

Northeasterly winds will reach storm 10 or violent storm 11 at times in Denmark Strait, within 100 miles of the Greenland coast south of 68 north from 261200UTC.

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 at times in west, occasionally violent storm 11 near greenland coast, veering southeasterly 5 or 6 later in south and east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first near greenland coast, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later in far south. Occasional light or moderate icing within 100 miles of greenland coast with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

In north of 68 north

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Mainly fair, but rain, sleet and snow in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, but moderate or poor in south, occasionally very poor in south. Occasional light icing in south with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

In south of 68 north

Wind: Cyclonic becoming easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Occasional rain and sleet in north, otherwise mainly fair, fog patches developing later near Iceland.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in north, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor later near Iceland.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in east, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Snow showers at first in east, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in east.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force 11 expected in Denmark Strait, storm force 10 expected in West Northern Section. Gales expected in East Northern Section, West Central Section and north Iceland.

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.