Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 101200UTC, low 53 north 14 west 973 expected 54 north 12 west 974 by 111200UTC. Low 51 north 23 west 972 losing its identity

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Wed 11 Feb 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

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

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: In south, cyclonic 4 to 6. in north, easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In south, rough becoming very rough later. in north, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: In south, rain. in north, rain or showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. in north, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: In south, easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6, increasing 6 to gale 8. in north, northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north.
Sea state: In south, rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. in north, very rough.
Weather: In south, rain or showers. in north, rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. in north, good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: East backing northeast 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough later.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in far north and at first in south, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, becoming wintry later in far north.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in north, 4 to 6 in south, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, but sleet and snow in northwest.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor, but moderate or good occasionally very poor in northwest. Occasional light icing at first in far northwest, within 100 miles of the greenland coast near the ice.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 10 Feb 2026

Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of East Central Section from 110600UTC until 111000UTC, then in the far southeast of East Central Section from 111000UTC until 111700UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 in far north, otherwise cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far southwest, then later in far southeast, perhaps violent storm 11 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high, but rough at first in far northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, thundery in the far south.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

West Central Section

In north of area

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south of area

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing until later within 150 miles of the greenland coast, close to the ice, with temperatures ms04 to ms07. Also severe icing until later north of 68 north, within 100 miles of the greenland coast and close to the ice, with temperatures ms08 to ms11.

North Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 6 or 7 at first in far south, otherwise northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet at first in far south, otherwise snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in far south, otherwise good occasionally very poor. Occasional moderate or severe icing throughout in far northwest, close to the ice, with temperatures ms08 to ms11. Very severe icing at first, north of 73 north, with temperatures ms12 to ms15. elsewhere occasional light icing with temperatures ms02 to ms03.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Northeasterly backing northerly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 in far east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet at first in south, then snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south, otherwise good occasionally very poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Severe gales are expected in Sole and East Central Section. Gales are expected in Shannon, Rockall, Bailey, East 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

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.