Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 270000UTC, low 48 north 36 west 996 expected 45 north 39 west 1003 by 280000UTC. Low 63 north 39 west 989 expected 64 north 39 west 974 by same time. High 52 north 13 west 1028 expected 65 north 09 east 1032 by that time. at 270000UTC, new low expected 35 north 07 west 1007 by 280000UTC

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 28 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 or 3 at first in west, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Variable, becoming northeast later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable, becoming southwesterly later in west, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8 in central and northwestern areas.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026

At 270000UTC, low 63 north 39 west 989 expected 64 north 39 west 974 by 280000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 150 and 250 miles of lows centre from 271500UTC in West Northern Section. In addition northeasterly winds will reach storm 10 at times in Denmark Strait, within 100 miles of Greenland coast south of 69 north until 271100UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in southwest, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in west, occasionally very high later in central areas.
Weather: Occasional rain, snow or snow showers in far north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing later in far northwest.

East Central Section

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 until later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate at first in east.
Weather: Showers, occasional rain or drizzle later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate, becoming moderate or poor later in west.

West Central Section

In east

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far north, becoming variable 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches developing in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

In west

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in south, but becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 elsewhere.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery for a time in south, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026

At 270000UTC, low 63 north 39 west 989 expected 64 north 39 west 974 by 280000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 150 and 250 miles of lows centre from 271500UTC in West Northern Section. In addition northeasterly winds will reach storm 10 at times in Denmark Strait, within 100 miles of Greenland coast south of 69 north until 271100UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, but 5 to 7 at first in south, decreasing 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 to 6 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later in far south.
Weather: Rain and snow, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing within 100 miles of greenland coast with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

In south

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, veering southwesterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later near east Iceland.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain and sleet, fog patches developing into fog banks for a time, becoming mainly fair later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming very poor for a time, and moderate or good later in west. Occasional light icing until later with temperatures ms01 to ms03.

In north

Wind: Easterly or southeast 6 to gale 8, but cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in north, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and snow, fog banks becoming extensive later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming poor or very poor later.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, but variable 3 or 4 at first in east and for a time in south, veering southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair, occasional rain and fog patches later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in west.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm force winds expected in West Northern Section. Gales expected in East Northern Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland, with a risk of gale in West 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.