Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 091200UTC, low 43 north 57 west 1002 expected 48 north 49 west with little change by 101200UTC. New low expected 75 north 11 west 998 by same time. New high expected 52 north 21 west 1025 by that time. at 091200UTC, high 51 north 11 west 1020 dissipating

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Thu 09 Jul 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Thu 09 Jul 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 10 Jul 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming north or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain in northwest, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then north or northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough until later in northwest, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate at first in north and east, otherwise rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

East Northern Section

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

West Northern Section

In far northwest

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain later, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first in east, then occasional rain or drizzle in west and north, fog patches in west and south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west and south.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in far southeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Southwesterly 5 at first in far northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough at first in far north, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

West Central Section

In southeast

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southerly or southeasterly later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather: Occasional rain at first, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

In southwest

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in far southwest.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in far southwest.
Weather: Rain later in far southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in far southwest.

In north

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later in southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Drizzle for a time, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 to the south of 70 north, then becoming variable 3 later in far west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog banks except in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor except in southeast.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming slight in north and west.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, and perhaps freezing drizzle for a time in far west, fog banks, and perhaps extensive fog for a time.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4 until later in west, otherwise mainly southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south and east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight near norway but becoming rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, with fog banks at first in west, then showers in west and north.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first in west, but becoming good in west and north, and later also in east and south.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Risk of gales in West Northern Section and West Central 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.