Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 310000UTC, low 51 north 61 west 1004 expected 59 north 45 west 988 by 010000UTC. Low 62 north 23 west 992 expected 70 north 00 east 977 by same time. Low 64 north 39 west 994 moving steadily northeastwards and losing its identity

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 1 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: West or northwest backing west or southwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Drizzle, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Drizzle, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8 veering northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming high for a time at first in far northwest.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time at first.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far northeast, veering northwesterly 4 to 6 later in east but backing southerly 5 to 7 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers, becoming fair later in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Rain at first in south and east, otherwise sleet or snow showers, but becoming fair later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 31 Mar 2026

At 310000UTC, low 51 north 61 west 1004 expected 59 north 45 west 988 by 010000UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the west of 30 west in the southern half of West Northern Section after 010000UTC.

In far northwest

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Snow showers then fair, then sleet or snow later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming moderate to very poor later. Light or moderate icing at times.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north but decreasing 4 or 5 for a time in south, then backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later, increasing storm 10 at times later in south to the west of 30 west, then veering westerly or southwesterly later in far southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in south, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at first in far northwest.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Very rough at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first except in far northwest, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, then becoming southerly 5 or 6 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Rain, then wintry showers in north, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 except in far southeast, occasionally severe gale 9 in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain, sleet or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far east between 69 north and 71 north, then decreasing 4 to 6, but increasing 6 to gale 8 again later in far west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in south.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times, but becoming fair for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times except in southeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times in far east near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms08.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 backing northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good. Light or moderate icing, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing at times near the ice, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7 becoming westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in north and west, mainly rough or very rough in south and east, but occasionally high in southeast.
Weather: Rain at first in southeast, otherwise sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming mainly good in southeast but occasionally very poor elsewhere. Light or moderate icing developing in west and north, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southwesterly 4 or 5 at first in east, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, then veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

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

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.