Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 270000UTC, high 61 north 28 west 1003 expected 59 north 23 west 1005 by 280000UTC. High 43 north 23 west 1025 expected 48 north 05 west 1022 by same time. Low 44 north 52 west 1011 expected 44 north 40 west 1008 by that time. at 270000UTC, low 66 north 05 east 983 expected 67 north 07 east 992 by 280000UTC. New highs expected 57 north 42 west 1021 and south Greenland 1021 by same time

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

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Jul 2026 to 08:00 (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.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West 4 or 5, backing southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West becoming variable, 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near icelandic coast.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in north and rough later in northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, but becoming variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain at first in east, otherwise fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in east.

East Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate, but slight in southwest, occasionally rough in far northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in northwest, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, fog patches in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in west.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but northerly 4 or 5 at first in northeast and then for a time in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches developing in northeast.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor or very poor in northeast.

North Iceland

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight in northwest.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales are possible 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.