Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 180000UTC, low 41 north 16 west 998 expected 38 north 18 west 983 by 190000UTC. Low 71 north 01 west 975 expected 73 north 01 east 976 by same time. Low 62 north 11 west 980 losing its identity.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 19 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic becoming east or northeast later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then very rough or high later.
Weather: Snow showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

In south

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, perhaps thundery, mainly fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

In north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, but variable 2 to 4 at first in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but northerly 5 to 7 at first in east, becoming southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Slight or moderate icing at first in north with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, backing southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Light or moderate icing in northwest with temperatures ms02 to ms05 until 190500utc. Occasional severe or very severe icing in far northwest with temperatures ms05 to ms08 until 181800utc.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force 11 expected in West Northern Section. Storm force 10 expected in Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in East Northern Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in West Central Section and 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.