Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 290000UTC, low 50 north 30 west 1002 expected 55 north 14 west 1011 by 300000UTC. Low 63 north 12 west 991 expected 69 north 05 west 996 by same time. New low expected 64 north 38 west 995 by that time. at 290000UTC, low 66 north 18 west 991 losing its identity

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 29 Jun 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 29 Jun 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 30 Jun 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in far southwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in northeast, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 at first in north, otherwise southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, then showers.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic in far southeast, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain until later in southeast, otherwise showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later in southeast.

West Northern Section

In northwestern quadrant

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far south and far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

In rest of area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times mainly in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first mainly in south, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 in west and later in east, then backing southerly or southwesterly later in west, decreasing 3 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
Weather: Rain at times, then mainly fair in west and also later in east, then rain later in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good in northwest and later in east.

West Central Section

In north

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7 at first in far southeast, otherwise westerly 4 or 5, backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, then rain, drizzle and fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming moderate to very poor later.

In south

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7 at first in east, occasionally gale 8 at first in far east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far east.
Weather: Mainly fair, then rain at times, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate to very poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far southeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state: Slight in far north, otherwise moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet, but freezing rain at times near greenland coast in north, fog patches mainly near greenland, then showers in far south.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor mainly near greenland, becoming moderate or good in far south.

North Iceland

In northwestern half of area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in far northwest, but elsewhere easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Occasional rain with fog banks, but freezing rain at times in far northwest, becoming mainly fair later in far south.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good later in far south.

In southeastern half of area

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming mainly westerly or southwesterly later, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog banks, becoming mainly fair in far south.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good in far south.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, fog patches at first in northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor but very poor at first in northeast.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Risk of severe gales in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait with gales expected in East Northern Section.

Unscheduled storm warnings are broadcast via Safetynet and in bulletin WONT54 EGRR available via some internet and ftpmail outlets

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.