Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 111200UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 61 north 05 west 962 by 121200UTC. Developing Atlantic low moving rather quickly eastwards, expected 46 north 19 west 995 by same time. Lows 57 north 18 west 974, 61 north 13 west 972 and 72 north 02 west 1003 all losing their identities

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

At 111200UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 61 north 05 west 962 by 121200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far northeast of sea area Shannon until 112100UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 for a time in the eastern half of sea area Rockall until 112300UTC. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times between 10 west and 15 west in sea area Southeast Iceland throughout the period. Also, southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 04 west and 05 east in Norwegian Basin throughout the period, and also violent storm force 11 to the south of 63 north in Norwegian Basin until 121400UTC. Finally, northerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far south of sea area north Iceland just east of Iceland after 121100UTC.

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in northeast, then decreasing 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high at first in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

At 111200UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 61 north 05 west 962 by 121200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far northeast of sea area Shannon until 112100UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 for a time in the eastern half of sea area Rockall until 112300UTC. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times between 10 west and 15 west in sea area Southeast Iceland throughout the period. Also, southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 04 west and 05 east in Norwegian Basin throughout the period, and also violent storm force 11 to the south of 63 north in Norwegian Basin until 121400UTC. Finally, northerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far south of sea area north Iceland just east of Iceland after 121100UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southwesterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 for a time in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first and severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

At 111200UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 61 north 05 west 962 by 121200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far northeast of sea area Shannon until 112100UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 for a time in the eastern half of sea area Rockall until 112300UTC. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times between 10 west and 15 west in sea area Southeast Iceland throughout the period. Also, southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 04 west and 05 east in Norwegian Basin throughout the period, and also violent storm force 11 to the south of 63 north in Norwegian Basin until 121400UTC. Finally, northerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far south of sea area north Iceland just east of Iceland after 121100UTC.

Wind: Northeasterly backing northerly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or snow.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in far east.
Weather: Rain or showers in southeast, sleet or snow showers in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.

West Northern Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing at first in far north.

In western half of the area

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southeasterly 5 to 7 later in south.
Sea state: Very rough at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers then fair, then rain or snow later in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor at first, then becoming moderate to very poor later in south.

East Central Section

In area to the north of 48 north

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, becoming fair later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

In area to the south of 48 north

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 then northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

In southeast

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far south, backing northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery rain at first in far south, otherwise showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in far south.

In southwest

Wind: Northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 to severe gale 9 at first in far south, backing westerly 3 or 4, then southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High at first in far south, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, but becoming fair for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in far south.

In northeast

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, backing northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

In northwest

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Wintry showers then fair, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, but becoming variable 2 to 4 within 100 miles of the greenland coast to the south of 69 north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in far east.
Weather: Snow showers, mainly in east and south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor in east and south. Light or moderate icing, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing developing later in east near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

At 111200UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 61 north 05 west 962 by 121200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far northeast of sea area Shannon until 112100UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 for a time in the eastern half of sea area Rockall until 112300UTC. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times between 10 west and 15 west in sea area Southeast Iceland throughout the period. Also, southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 04 west and 05 east in Norwegian Basin throughout the period, and also violent storm force 11 to the south of 63 north in Norwegian Basin until 121400UTC. Finally, northerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far south of sea area north Iceland just east of Iceland after 121100UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7 in north but 7 to severe gale 9 in south, occasionally storm 10 later in far south just east of Iceland.
Sea state: Moderate at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming high in south.
Weather: Snow showers in north and west, then rain or snow in southeast spreading northwestwards, fog patches in far southeast, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Visibility: Light or moderate icing in northwestern half of the area, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing developing later near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

Norwegian Basin

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Jan 2026

At 111200UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 61 north 05 west 962 by 121200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far northeast of sea area Shannon until 112100UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 for a time in the eastern half of sea area Rockall until 112300UTC. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times between 10 west and 15 west in sea area Southeast Iceland throughout the period. Also, southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 04 west and 05 east in Norwegian Basin throughout the period, and also violent storm force 11 to the south of 63 north in Norwegian Basin until 121400UTC. Finally, northerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far south of sea area north Iceland just east of Iceland after 121100UTC.

In area to the west of 05 east

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in southeast, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later in far west.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Poor.

In area to the east of 05 east

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force winds expected in West Central Section. Storm force winds expected in Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Severe gales expected in Faeroes and Denmark Strait, but with a risk of storm force winds later in far east of Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Bailey, East Northern Section and East Central Section. Risk of gales in west Sole.

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.