Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 181200UTC, high 56 north 22 west 1033 slow-moving, intensifying 1035 by 191200UTC. High 74 north 12 west 1016 expected 72 north 02 west 1019 by same time. Low 69 north 26 west 1012 losing its identity

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 Jul 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 Jul 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in far northwest, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair then drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south and west.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly mainly 4 or 5, but 6 in far northeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in northeast.
Weather: Drizzle at times, fog patches in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.

In southern half of the area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle in northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in northwest.

West Northern Section

In far northwest

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in west and north.
Sea state: Rough until later in southwest, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches except in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor except in southeast.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

West Central Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle at times in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in north.

In western half of the area

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

In area to the south of 69 north

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Drizzle at times, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

In area to the north of 69 north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Mainly smooth or slight, but slight or moderate in far south.
Weather: Fog banks in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks, mainly in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times except in southeast, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

In area to the north of 62 north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, then occasional rain or drizzle in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

In area to the south of 62 north

Wind: Northerly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far southeast, then backing westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 except in far southeast.
Sea state: Rough at first in far southeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, then occasional drizzle in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Risk of gales later in Southeast Iceland.

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.