Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 040000UTC, low 63 north 42 west 968 expected 62 north 41 west 981 by 050000UTC. New low expected 72 north 18 west 986 by same time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 5 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers in west.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor in west.

Shannon

Wind: South veering northwest, 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north, then northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: High becoming very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times in north and west.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

West Northern Section

In far northwest of area

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing.

Wind: Rest of area, westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing in far west.

East Central Section

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6 at first in far east, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later in far west, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough at first in southeast, otherwise very rough.
Weather: Rain at first in far east, otherwise wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, backing southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally snow showers, occasional rain or sleet later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing at first in far northwest.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 4 Mar 2026

At 040000UTC, low 63 north 42 west 968 expected 62 north 41 west 981 by 050000UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the far north of Denmark Strait near the ice edge until 041200UTC.

Wind: Northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10 at first in far north, otherwise cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in far east.
Weather: Snow at first in far north, otherwise snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing near ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms03.

North Iceland

In northwest of area

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair then snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing near ice edge with temperatures around ms02, then becoming occasional light or moderate icing later with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

In southeast of area

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 5 to 7, then backing southerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in southeast.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Westerly, backing southerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times later in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northeast.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for following 24 hours

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

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.