Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 060000UTC, low 48 north 13 west 971 expected 52 north 09 west 979 by 070000UTC. New low 52 north 21 west 982 expected by same time. Low 44 north 47 west losing its identity by that time. at 060000UTC, low 53 north 41 west 986 expected 55 north 51 west 989 by 070000UTC. New low expected 43 north 27 west 999 by same time.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Feb 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Feb 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Feb 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly easterly in north, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first in north and south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: East 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far southeast, decreasing 4 at times later in north and west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry at times in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times until later in far west, occasionally 4 in north and later in far southeast, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 at times in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far north.
Weather: Rain at times in south and later in northeast, otherwise wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

In northern half of the area

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in far northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, thundery at times in east.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far northeast, elsewhere westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in north and east, squally wintry showers in south and west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in east, but increasing 7 or gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in north near greenland coast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow, fair at times in south.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north, and good at times in south. Occasional light or moderate icing north of 65 north with temperatures ms02 to ms05 within 100 miles of greenland coast.

North Iceland

In area north of 70 north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fog patches, occasional snow later mainly in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In rest of area

Wind: Cyclonic mainly easterly, 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in the southwest near iceland.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, but occasional rain, sleet or snow at first in far west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east and very poor at first in west.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later in south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north and 3 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Severe gales expected West Central Section and gales in West Northern Section, East Central Section and Denmark Strait.

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.