Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 270000UTC, low 49 north 10 west 1002 expected 53 north 06 west 1005 by 280000UTC. Low 56 north 43 west 1004 expected 58 north 40 west 1002 by same time. Low 48 north 45 west 1010 expected 54 north 28 west 1003 by that time. at 270000UTC, high 62 north 34 west 1026 expected 63 north 28 west 1019 by 280000UTC. New low expected 67 north 05 west 1013 by same time. Low 71 north 14 west 1018 losing its identity

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 27 Aug 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 27 Aug 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 28 Aug 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast backing northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Slight occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

In northeast

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in southwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

In south

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather: Showers, then rain in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

In northwest

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 in south and east, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

West Northern Section

In area north of 61 north

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 in north, variable 2 to 4 in south.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally slight.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

In area south of 61 north

Wind: Cyclonic in southwest, otherwise easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 until later in west except in far southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Showers in far north, otherwise rain at times, fog patches in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor but very poor in southwest.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of area

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far south.
Weather: Rain at first in southeast, otherwise mainly fair, then rain in west and also later in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In northwestern half of area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, then rain in west and also later in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west and also later in east.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches, then showers in northwest and also later elsewhere except far northeast.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good in northwest and also later elsewhere except far northeast.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 except in far south.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

North Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in southeast.
Sea state: Slight, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Mainly fair in far west, otherwise occasional rain or drizzle with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor except in far west.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Variable mainly easterly or southeasterly, 3 or 4, decreasing 2 at times in east.
Sea state: Slight.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches in far west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in 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.