Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 110000UTC, low 57 north 39 west 976 expected 58 north 36 west 961 by 120000UTC. Low 63 north 05 east 999 expected 65 north 07 east 1009 by same time. Lows 51 north 24 west 992 and 68 north 27 west 1003 both losing their identities by that time. New low expected 50 north 26 west 995 by 120000UTC

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Oct 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Oct 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Oct 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southerly, veering westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Faeroes

Wind: North becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

East Northern Section

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Oct 2026

At 110000UTC, low 57 north 39 west 976 expected 58 north 36 west 961 by 120000UTC. Southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times in East Northern Section north of 60 north from 111800UTC to 120000UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the far northwest of West Northern Section and in Denmark Strait west of 33 west from 112000UTC.

In northeast

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time in northwest, then veering southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far northwest.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

In southwest

Wind: Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Oct 2026

At 110000UTC, low 57 north 39 west 976 expected 58 north 36 west 961 by 120000UTC. Southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times in East Northern Section north of 60 north from 111800UTC to 120000UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the far northwest of West Northern Section and in Denmark Strait west of 33 west from 112000UTC.

In north

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic later except in far northwest, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times later in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in far northeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain at times, turning to sleet near greenland.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.

In south

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming mainly westerly or southwesterly later, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Southeasterly at first in far northeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor at first in north.

West Central Section

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times in far northwest.
Sea state: Rough becoming very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain then showers, thundery in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 11 Oct 2026

At 110000UTC, low 57 north 39 west 976 expected 58 north 36 west 961 by 120000UTC. Southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times in East Northern Section north of 60 north from 111800UTC to 120000UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the far northwest of West Northern Section and in Denmark Strait west of 33 west from 112000UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in west and later elsewhere, occasionally storm 10 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in southwest and later elsewhere, occasionally high later in southwest.
Weather: Rain at times, with occasional sleet or snow at times near greenland.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor near greenland. Occasional light icing developing later in far north with temperatures around ms02.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 later in north, and becoming southeasterly 5 to 7 later in south, perhaps gale 8 later in far south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far west.
Weather: Showers, but sleet or snow in far northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in far northwest. Occasional light icing later near ice edge with temperatures around ms02.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later.
Weather: Showers in east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in east.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Storms expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in East Northern Section, West Central Section and north Iceland. Risk of gales in East Central Section, Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland.

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.