Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 241200UTC, low 64 north 20 west 999 expected 67 north 20 west 1008 by 251200UTC. Low 60 north 32 west 1003 expected 55 north 26 west 1008 by same time. High 58 north 00 east 1025 expected 66 north 10 east with little change by that time. New high expected 75 north 06 west 1025 by 251200UTC

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 24 Aug 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 24 Aug 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 25 Aug 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: In east, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first. in west, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In east, mainly moderate, occasionally rough at first. in west, moderate.
Weather: In east, thundery showers. in west, showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northwest.
Sea state: Rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southerly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

In northeast

Wind: Southerly 4 or 5 at first in far southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers mainly in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east.

In south

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times in east, but occasionally 6 at first in far east and then later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming mainly moderate.
Weather: Showers, but occasional rain in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east.

In northwest

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, but northeasterly until later in southwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in northwest, then increasing 6 or 7 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

West Northern Section

In north

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers in south and east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in south and east.

In southeast

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northerly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In southwest

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers, mainly fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

East Central Section

In southwest quadrant

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough at times.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

In rest or area

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in northeast and 6 elsewhere.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in west and at first in northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps becoming thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers in east, mainly fair in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in northeast.

Denmark Strait

In eastern half of area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in far northeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times mainly later, but becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far northeast, becoming rough or very rough except in far northeast.
Weather: Fair in far northeast, otherwise occasional rain, fog patches in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in far northeast and very poor in southeast.

In western half of area

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 until later in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Iceland

In area north of 73 north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in north.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

In area south of 73 north

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south and west, then increasing 6 to gale 8 in northwest and decreasing 3 at times later elsewhere.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
Weather: Fair at first in far north, otherwise rain or drizzle at times with fog patches.
Visibility: Good at first in far north, otherwise moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 in far west, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in southeast.
Weather: Fog patches in north and west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north and west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in Denmark Strait with a risk of gales in east and West Northern Sections, east and West Central Sections and north 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.