Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 261200UTC, low 53 north 37 west 948 expected 52 north 29 west 964 by 271200UTC. Low 57 north 19 west 971 losing its identity. New low, moving steadily northeast, expected 52 north 08 west 957 by 271200UTC, then moving rather quickly northwest

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Jan 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

At 261200UTC, low 53 north 37 west 948 expected 52 north 29 west 964 by 271200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 250 and 400 miles of centre until 270500UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant within 150 and 450 miles of centre until 27100UTC. New low, moving steadily northeast, expected 52 north 08 west 957 by 271200UTC, then moving rather quickly northwest. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southern quadrant of the low within 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 270100UTC until 270700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern semicircle within 50 and 150 miles of the centre from 262300UTC until 271400UTC, and in the northeast quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of centre from 270500UTC until 271700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northeast of East Northern Section, just to the southwest of Iceland until 271000UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Shannon

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

At 261200UTC, low 53 north 37 west 948 expected 52 north 29 west 964 by 271200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 250 and 400 miles of centre until 270500UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant within 150 and 450 miles of centre until 27100UTC. New low, moving steadily northeast, expected 52 north 08 west 957 by 271200UTC, then moving rather quickly northwest. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southern quadrant of the low within 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 270100UTC until 270700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern semicircle within 50 and 150 miles of the centre from 262300UTC until 271400UTC, and in the northeast quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of centre from 270500UTC until 271700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northeast of East Northern Section, just to the southwest of Iceland until 271000UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly east or southeast, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly east or southeast, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

At 261200UTC, low 53 north 37 west 948 expected 52 north 29 west 964 by 271200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 250 and 400 miles of centre until 270500UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant within 150 and 450 miles of centre until 27100UTC. New low, moving steadily northeast, expected 52 north 08 west 957 by 271200UTC, then moving rather quickly northwest. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southern quadrant of the low within 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 270100UTC until 270700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern semicircle within 50 and 150 miles of the centre from 262300UTC until 271400UTC, and in the northeast quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of centre from 270500UTC until 271700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northeast of East Northern Section, just to the southwest of Iceland until 271000UTC.

In north of area

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far northeast until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

In south of area

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, backing easterly, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, wintry at first in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northwest

Wind: Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: High.
Weather: Rain, sleet and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In southeast

Wind: Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: High becoming very rough.
Weather: Thundery wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

At 261200UTC, low 53 north 37 west 948 expected 52 north 29 west 964 by 271200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 250 and 400 miles of centre until 270500UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant within 150 and 450 miles of centre until 27100UTC. New low, moving steadily northeast, expected 52 north 08 west 957 by 271200UTC, then moving rather quickly northwest. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southern quadrant of the low within 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 270100UTC until 270700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern semicircle within 50 and 150 miles of the centre from 262300UTC until 271400UTC, and in the northeast quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of centre from 270500UTC until 271700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northeast of East Northern Section, just to the southwest of Iceland until 271000UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in south, increasing storm 10 for a time in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very high later in south.
Weather: Occasional rain or thundery showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

At 261200UTC, low 53 north 37 west 948 expected 52 north 29 west 964 by 271200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 250 and 400 miles of centre until 270500UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant within 150 and 450 miles of centre until 27100UTC. New low, moving steadily northeast, expected 52 north 08 west 957 by 271200UTC, then moving rather quickly northwest. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southern quadrant of the low within 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 270100UTC until 270700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern semicircle within 50 and 150 miles of the centre from 262300UTC until 271400UTC, and in the northeast quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of centre from 270500UTC until 271700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northeast of East Northern Section, just to the southwest of Iceland until 271000UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 in far north, otherwise severe gale 9 or storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in south, decreasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Occasional rain or thundery showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Jan 2026

At 261200UTC, low 53 north 37 west 948 expected 52 north 29 west 964 by 271200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 250 and 400 miles of centre until 270500UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant within 150 and 450 miles of centre until 27100UTC. New low, moving steadily northeast, expected 52 north 08 west 957 by 271200UTC, then moving rather quickly northwest. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southern quadrant of the low within 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 270100UTC until 270700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern semicircle within 50 and 150 miles of the centre from 262300UTC until 271400UTC, and in the northeast quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of centre from 270500UTC until 271700UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northeast of East Northern Section, just to the southwest of Iceland until 271000UTC.

Wind: Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in south.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor. Light or moderate icing within 50 miles of the ice edge with temperatures ms 02 to ms05. Severe or very severe icing within 50 miles of the ice edge north of 67 north with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

North Iceland

In north

Wind: Northeasterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 in east.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Snow showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 50 miles of the ice edge with temperatures ms03 to 0s06. Occasional severe icing within 50 miles of the ice edge with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

In south

Wind: Easterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far south.
Weather: Showers, wintry in northwest.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far west.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms are expected in West Central Section. Storms are expected in East Northern Section with a risk of storms in Bailey. Severe gales are expected in Shannon, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, East Central Section and Denmark Strait. Gales are expected in 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.

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