Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 271200UTC, low 59 north 22 west 1004 expected 58 north 11 west 998 by 281200UTC. New high 55 north 42 west 1022 expected by same time. Low 65 north 04 east 986 expected 67 north 08 east 999 by that time. at 271200UTC, low 43 north 45 west 1009 expected 42 north 35 west 1005 by 281200UTC.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Jul 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Jul 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 28 Jul 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later in east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers,.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first and later.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first and later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 for a time in east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in north and rough in east.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery for a time in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but becoming variable 2 to 4 in far northwest and southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic mainly westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 for a time in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight in southwest, occasionally rough for a time in far northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, fair later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic becoming mainly northeasterly later 3 to 5, occasionally variable 3 or less at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair in north, rain or thundery showers elsewhere.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic mainly northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair, but fog patches developing in north and later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor in north and later in west.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in west, becoming variable 3 or less in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight in far north and rough at times in east.
Weather: Fog patches in northwest, rain at times in east and southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east, but very poor at times in northwest.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic mainly westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later, but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

There is a risk of severe gales in Bailey, with gales expected in Faeroes 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.