Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 151200UTC, high 45 north 34 west 1026 expected 50 north 19 west 1035 by 161200UTC. Low 66 north 32 west 987 expected 68 north 16 west 1005 by same time. Low 69 north 05 west 953 expected 76 north 19 east by that time.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Thu 15 Oct 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Thu 15 Oct 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 16 Oct 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in west, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering north or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6, veering north or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, veering westerly or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then fair.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then west or northwest later.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers, then fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but high at first in far east.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Rain or very rough.
Weather: Showers, then mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

West Northern Section

In northwest quadrant

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in northwest, elsewhere southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering southeasterly later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

In northeast quadrant

Wind: Southerly or southwest 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

In southern half of area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far northwest, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Fair then occasional rain later in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in west.

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 at first in southwest, then becoming east or southeast 5 to 7 in southwest later and variable 2 to 4 in northwest later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Fair, then rain later in southwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in southwest.

West Central Section

In northeast

Wind: Westerly veering southerly 3 to 5, then southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain later in southwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in far southwest.

In northwest

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 later, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Fair, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

In southeast

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 8 later, then backing southerly later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

In southwest

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 7 to gale 8, veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far northwest.
Weather: Fair, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain or snow, mainly south and central areas, then later in far southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

In northeast of area

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Snow or snow showers, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Light or moderate icing in north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing in far north, with temperatures ms07 to ms09.

In southwest of area

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Light or moderate icing in north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
Visibility

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, veering northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 later, then backing southwest 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

A risk of storms in West Northern Section. Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, East Central Section and West Central Section. Gales expected in Fitzroy. Strong winds expected in Shannon, Rockall, Bailey, Southeast Iceland, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. There is a risk of strong winds in Faeroes.

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.