Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 241200UTC, low 63 north 15 west 971 expected 77 north 22 west 959 by 2512000UTC. Low 48 north 21 west 992 expected 57 north 08 west 1004 by same time. Low moving very rapidly northeast expected 56 north 37 west 980 by that time. New low expected 62 north 07 west 1004 by 2512000UTC

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026.

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

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northwesterly becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers in south, snow showers then rain sleet and snow later in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later in north. Light icing in far northwest of area until later.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Snow showers, then rain, sleet and snow in south.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor in south. Light icing in northwest of area, with moderate to very severe icing in the far northwest of area.

East Central Section

Wind: Northwesterly backing southwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough occasionally high at first in south, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, thundery at first in east, fog patches later in southwest.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate occasionally very poor later in southwest.

West Central Section

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Mainly fair at first in east, otherwise rain or showers.
Visibility: Good at first in east, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

In eastern half of area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing with temperatures ms02 to ms05 throughout. Severe or very severe icing in northwest of area with temperatures ms08 to ms11.

In western half of area

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in east.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing with temperatures ms05 to ms08. Severe to very severe icing in west with temperatures ms09 to ms12.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 22:06 (UTC) on Tue 24 Feb 2026

At 241200UTC, low 63 north 15 west 971 expected 77 north 22 west 959 by 2512000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 from 50 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant within the north Iceland area until 250800UTC. Also, latest indications show that northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time until 250000UTC in the eastern half of sea area Southeast Iceland and to the south of 66 north in sea area north Iceland.

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwesterly later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in northeast, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high in east, rough or very rough in west.
Weather: Rain sleet and snow, snow showers later.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally very poor, becoming good occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at first in south with temperatures ms04 to ms07. Severe to very severe icing in north throughout with temperatures ms09 to ms12.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good later in west.

Outlook for following 24 hours

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

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.