Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 091200UTC, low 62 north 29 west 974 expected 65 north 24 west 968 by 101200UTC. Low 51 north 50 west 996 expected 58 north 22 west 969 by same time. Low 72 north 12 west 987 losing its identity

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 10 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, veering west 4 or 5, backing southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southerly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 4 to 6 for a time, then southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

At 091200UTC, low 62 north 29 west 974 expected 65 north 24 west 968 by 101200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait east of 26 west and north of 66 north from 100300UTC and also in north Iceland north of 68 north and west of 18 west from 100900UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 east of 25 west and north of 67 north from 100600UTC until 101900UTC. Low 51 north 50 west 996 expected 58 north 22 west 969 by same time. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern semicircle within 100 and 350 miles of centre from 100600UTC throughout. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 150 and 300 miles of centre from 101500UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 later in south, then storm 10 to violent storm 11 later in southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in south.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry at times in the north and later in the west.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in east.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

At 091200UTC, low 62 north 29 west 974 expected 65 north 24 west 968 by 101200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait east of 26 west and north of 66 north from 100300UTC and also in north Iceland north of 68 north and west of 18 west from 100900UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 east of 25 west and north of 67 north from 100600UTC until 101900UTC. Low 51 north 50 west 996 expected 58 north 22 west 969 by same time. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern semicircle within 100 and 350 miles of centre from 100600UTC throughout. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 150 and 300 miles of centre from 101500UTC.

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in north, otherwise 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later in north, occasionally violent storm 11 for a time later in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in northeast.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, squally showers later, turning wintry later in the far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor, but moderate or poor in north.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

At 091200UTC, low 62 north 29 west 974 expected 65 north 24 west 968 by 101200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait east of 26 west and north of 66 north from 100300UTC and also in north Iceland north of 68 north and west of 18 west from 100900UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 east of 25 west and north of 67 north from 100600UTC until 101900UTC. Low 51 north 50 west 996 expected 58 north 22 west 969 by same time. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern semicircle within 100 and 350 miles of centre from 100600UTC throughout. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 150 and 300 miles of centre from 101500UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in west, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 in northeast, occasionally violent storm 11 later in northeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times, turning to sleet or snow in the north.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor and very poor in the north.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

At 091200UTC, low 62 north 29 west 974 expected 65 north 24 west 968 by 101200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait east of 26 west and north of 66 north from 100300UTC and also in north Iceland north of 68 north and west of 18 west from 100900UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 east of 25 west and north of 67 north from 100600UTC until 101900UTC. Low 51 north 50 west 996 expected 58 north 22 west 969 by same time. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern semicircle within 100 and 350 miles of centre from 100600UTC throughout. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 150 and 300 miles of centre from 101500UTC.

In area east of 32 west

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 to violent storm 11 in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor. Light to moderate icing throughout except in southeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, severe to very severe icing then developing in the north, north of 66 north, close to the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms08.

In area west of 32 west

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7, backing westerly 3 to 5 later, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional snow, becoming mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good. Light icing at first, with temperatures ms02 to ms03.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 9 Mar 2026

At 091200UTC, low 62 north 29 west 974 expected 65 north 24 west 968 by 101200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait east of 26 west and north of 66 north from 100300UTC and also in north Iceland north of 68 north and west of 18 west from 100900UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 east of 25 west and north of 67 north from 100600UTC until 101900UTC. Low 51 north 50 west 996 expected 58 north 22 west 969 by same time. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern semicircle within 100 and 350 miles of centre from 100600UTC throughout. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in the southwestern quadrant within 150 and 300 miles of centre from 101500UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 in west, occasionally storm 10 later in west, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough in south.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle in south, occasional sleet or snow in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor in southeast, moderate occasionally very poor elsewhere. Light or moderate icing in northwest throughout with temperatures ms03 to ms06. Severe to very severe icing developing in far northwest, close to the ice, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6 at first in west, otherwise southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms are expected in Rockall, East Northern Section, West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Storms are expected in Bailey, East Central Section, West Central Section and north Iceland, with a risk of storms in Faeroes. Severe gales are expected in Shannon, Southeast Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales are expected in Sole.

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.