Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 241200UTC, low 64 north 29 west 984 expected 58 north 13 west 1009 by 251200UTC. Low 66 north 01 west 964 expected 66 north 06 east 972 by same time. High 44 north 28 west 1029 expected 47 north 18 west 1035 by that time. New low 66 north 17 west 1015 expected by 251200UTC

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Wed 25 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: West or southwest veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, veering north 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West veering northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. light icing in north.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

At 241200UTC, low 64 north 29 west 984 expected 58 north 13 west 1009 by 251200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern quadrant between 50 and 150 miles of the centre until 250200UTC.

In area south of 61 north

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in northwest, decreasing 4 to 6 later, then backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers at first in north, then rain, drizzle and fog patches later in southwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in north, becoming moderate occasionally very poor later in southwest.

In rest of area

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in north, very rough or high in south.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Mar 2026

At 241200UTC, low 64 north 29 west 984 expected 58 north 13 west 1009 by 251200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern quadrant between 50 and 150 miles of the centre until 250200UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly, 5 to 7, but 7 to severe gale 9 at first in east, occasionally storm 10 at first in northeast, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional snow in north, rain or drizzle and fog patches in south.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor in north, moderate or poor occasionally very poor in south. Occasional light or moderate icing in northwest.

East Central Section

In north of area

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers at first in east, rain and drizzle later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in east, becoming moderate occasionally poor later in west.

In south of area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but northerly 4 to 6 at first in east and later in west.
Sea state: Rough, but very rough at first in north.
Weather: Occasional rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

West Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic, mainly southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches, sleet at first in far north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at first in east with temperatures ms03 to ms06, then later in west with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but very rough or high in far south.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing with temperatures ms03 to ms06, severe or very severe icing in northwest, close to the ice, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers, turning to snow in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

Outlook for following 24 hours

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