Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 271200UTC, complex low 61 north 05 west 961 and 66 north 09 west 961 expected single centre 69 north 00 east 972 by 281200UTC. Low 41 north 47 west 991 expected 54 north 33 west 962 by same time. Low 59 north 54 west 973 expected 55 north 44 west 975 by that time

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Oct 2026.

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

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: West backing southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Showers, squally at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High becoming very rough, then rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming good later.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

Faeroes

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Oct 2026

At 271200UTC, complex low 61 north 05 west 961 and 66 north 09 west 961 expected single centre 69 north 00 east 972 by 281200UTC. Southwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 at times in Faeroes until 272200UTC. At 271200UTC, low 41 north 47 west 991 expected 54 north 33 west 962 by 281200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 after 280600UTC between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southern semicircle.

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: In south, westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later. in north, westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: In south, very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later. in north, rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in east.
Weather: In south, rain or squally showers. in north, rain, becoming fair later.
Visibility: In south, moderate or poor. in north, moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

East Northern Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Oct 2026

At 271200UTC, complex low 61 north 05 west 961 and 66 north 09 west 961 expected single centre 69 north 00 east 972 by 281200UTC. Southwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 at times in Faeroes until 272200UTC. At 271200UTC, low 41 north 47 west 991 expected 54 north 33 west 962 by 281200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 after 280600UTC between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southern semicircle.

In far northwest

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7 becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Rain then fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, backing southerly 4 to 6, then backing southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in south and west, occasionally storm 10 for a time later in far southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in south and west, and later in north and east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

West Northern Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Oct 2026

At 271200UTC, complex low 61 north 05 west 961 and 66 north 09 west 961 expected single centre 69 north 00 east 972 by 281200UTC. Southwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 at times in Faeroes until 272200UTC. At 271200UTC, low 41 north 47 west 991 expected 54 north 33 west 962 by 281200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 after 280600UTC between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southern semicircle.

In area to the north of 64 north

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 for a time later except in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough for a time except in west.
Weather: Rain, but also sleet or snow at times in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in far northwest.

In area to the south of 64 north

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, increasing storm 10 at times later to the south of 59 north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.

East Central Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Oct 2026

At 271200UTC, complex low 61 north 05 west 961 and 66 north 09 west 961 expected single centre 69 north 00 east 972 by 281200UTC. Southwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 at times in Faeroes until 272200UTC. At 271200UTC, low 41 north 47 west 991 expected 54 north 33 west 962 by 281200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 after 280600UTC between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southern semicircle.

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later except in southeast, occasionally storm 10 for a time later in far northwest, then veering westerly 5 to 7 later in far west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later except in southeast.
Weather: Showers then rain, perhaps thundery later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor except in southeast.

West Central Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Oct 2026

At 271200UTC, complex low 61 north 05 west 961 and 66 north 09 west 961 expected single centre 69 north 00 east 972 by 281200UTC. Southwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 at times in Faeroes until 272200UTC. At 271200UTC, low 41 north 47 west 991 expected 54 north 33 west 962 by 281200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 after 280600UTC between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southern semicircle.

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in south, and then also for a time later in north, then becoming westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, thundery at times, then squally wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first, but becoming very poor at times later in west.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east and also later in far west, decreasing 4 or 5 later in far north.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times, but rain or sleet at times in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good. Light or moderate icing until later to the north of 69 north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

In northwest

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south.
Sea state: Moderate at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough, but occasionally high in southwest.
Weather: Rain at first in south, otherwise sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in far northwest, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

In southeast

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in north and cyclonic 4 to 6 in south, but becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough, but occasionally high in far southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry in north, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly mainly 6 to gale 8, but 4 or 5 at first in northwest, and increasing severe gale 9 at times except in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in far east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Violent storm force winds expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in East Northern Section and East Central Section. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Rockall, Bailey, West Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Risk of gales in north Iceland.

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.