Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 141200UTC, low 71 north 03 west 960 expected 63 north 18 west 971 by 151200UTC. Low 56 north 33 west 964 expected 71 north 14 west 958 by same time. New low moving steadily northeast, expected 72 north 04 east 960 by that time. New low expected northeast Fitzroy 1000 by 151200UTC. Low 51 north 22 west 971 losing its identity

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 14 Dec 2025.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 14 Dec 2025 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 15 Dec 2025.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering northwest, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough near Iceland.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 in northwest, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather: Wintry showers, thundery in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In north

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain and sleet then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain and sleet then wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, but gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 or gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry thundery showers at first, rain later in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northeast, then decreasing 3 to 5 in southeast, but backing northwesterly 6 to gale 8 in north and backing southwesterly 3 to 5 in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain and sleet, but snow in east, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in east, becoming mainly good later. Light to moderate icing in north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, becoming severe near the ice edge with temperatures around ms06, clearing later.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 14 Dec 2025

Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times, between 150000UTC and 151500UTC, in the northwest of north Iceland near the ice edge.

In northwest

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 for a time in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Poor or very poor, occasionally good. Light to moderate icing in west, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, becoming severe near the ice edge with temperatures around ms07, clearing later.

In southeast

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain, but sleet or snow in northwest, showers later in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northwest.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain at times becoming mainly fair, showers later in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or poor becoming good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Hurricane force winds are expected in West Central Section. Storms are expected in East Northern Section and West Northern Section. Severe gales are expected in East Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Gales are expected in all other areas.

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.