Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 091200UTC, low 53 north 45 west 991 expected 54 north 40 west 988 by 101200UTC. Low 62 north 18 west 997 expected 62 north 12 west 1003 by that time. Low 71 north 11 west 1015 expected 70 north 10 west 1004 by same time. at 091200UTC low 67 north 08 east 1007 expected 68 north 09 east 1005 by 101200UTC. New low expected 59 north 08 west 1001 by same time.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 9 Jan 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 10 Jan 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest backing south later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southerly 5 to 7 later, but westerly 3 or 4 at first in northeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, but 2 to 4 at first in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain and snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

West Northern Section

In north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In south

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in south.
Weather: Occasional rain, snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in east.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, showers later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light to moderate icing in far southwest, within 50 miles of ice edge from 101000utc, with temperatures ms05 to ms08.

North Iceland

In far south

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wind: Elsewhere, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers, rain and snow in far south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Rain and snow, snow showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm force 10 expected in East Central Section. Severe gales expected in Sole, Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in East Northern Section, East Central Section and north Iceland.

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.