Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 120000UTC, lows 68 north 10 west 979 and 67 north 19 west 976 losing their identities by 130000UTC. Low 58 north 14 west 996 expected 69 north 05 east 985 by same time. New high expected 46 north 05 west 1026 by that time. at 120000UTC, low 54 north 48 west 987 expected 58 north 39 west 990 by 130000UTC

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 12 Sep 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 12 Sep 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 13 Sep 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, but very poor later.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: West 5 to 7, backing southwest 3 or 4.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, then moderate later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 2 to 4, becoming variable later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in west.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, but becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in far northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain in west, fog patches in southwest.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor in west, occasionally very poor in southwest.

West Northern Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far northeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast and later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in far northwest.
Weather: Fair at first in northeast, otherwise rain, drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, then rain and drizzle with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in central area, veering westerly or southwesterly later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain or thundery showers, fog patches in northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in northeast.

Denmark Strait

In area east of 23 west

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, but snow in north, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north, becoming good later.

In rest of area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic, mainly easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Showers and fog patches later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later.

North Iceland

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 12 Sep 2026

Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the northwest of north Iceland until 121200UTC.

In northwest

Wind: Northerly gale 8 to storm 10, backing northwesterly 5 to 7, then southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow at times, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Poor or very poor, becoming good later. Light icing at first in far northwest with temperatures around ms03.

In rest of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southwest, becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west.
Weather: Occasional rain with snow in northwest and fog patches in north, then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north and northwest, becoming good.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east, backing westerly 5 to 7, then decreasing 4 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain for a time, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales are possible in Bailey, Southeast Iceland and 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.