Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 301200UTC, low 58 north 35 west 958 expected 57 north 22 west 965 by 011200UTC. New high expected 73 north 20 west 1012 by same time. High 68 north 03 west 1012 dissipating

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 30 Nov 2025.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 30 Nov 2025 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 1 Dec 2025.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, veering southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, thundery showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 30 Nov 2025

At 301200UTC, low 58 north 35 west 958 expected 57 north 22 west 965 by 011200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 302300UTC and 011200UTC in the southwestern quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of the centre. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section and far southwest of Denmark Strait until 302200UTC. Northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 in the south of West Northern Section after 011500UTC. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Iceland coast in East Northern Section until 010600UTC. Finally, easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the west of sea area Southeast Iceland after 302300UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 30 Nov 2025

At 301200UTC, low 58 north 35 west 958 expected 57 north 22 west 965 by 011200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 302300UTC and 011200UTC in the southwestern quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of the centre. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section and far southwest of Denmark Strait until 302200UTC. Northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 in the south of West Northern Section after 011500UTC. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Iceland coast in East Northern Section until 010600UTC. Finally, easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the west of sea area Southeast Iceland after 302300UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in northeast and in far southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in far southwest.
Weather: Rain in far northeast, otherwise squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 30 Nov 2025

At 301200UTC, low 58 north 35 west 958 expected 57 north 22 west 965 by 011200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 302300UTC and 011200UTC in the southwestern quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of the centre. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section and far southwest of Denmark Strait until 302200UTC. Northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 in the south of West Northern Section after 011500UTC. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Iceland coast in East Northern Section until 010600UTC. Finally, easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the west of sea area Southeast Iceland after 302300UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in southwest and at first also in far northwest, becoming northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10 in south and northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain in north and west, with sleet in far northwest, elsewhere squally showers, some wintry.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 30 Nov 2025

At 301200UTC, low 58 north 35 west 958 expected 57 north 22 west 965 by 011200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 302300UTC and 011200UTC in the southwestern quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of the centre. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section and far southwest of Denmark Strait until 302200UTC. Northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 in the south of West Northern Section after 011500UTC. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Iceland coast in East Northern Section until 010600UTC. Finally, easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the west of sea area Southeast Iceland after 302300UTC.

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest, veering westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in northwest.
Sea state: Rough at first in southeast, otherwise very rough or high, becoming very high later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain at first in southeast, otherwise squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 30 Nov 2025

At 301200UTC, low 58 north 35 west 958 expected 57 north 22 west 965 by 011200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 302300UTC and 011200UTC in the southwestern quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of the centre. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section and far southwest of Denmark Strait until 302200UTC. Northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 in the south of West Northern Section after 011500UTC. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Iceland coast in East Northern Section until 010600UTC. Finally, easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the west of sea area Southeast Iceland after 302300UTC.

Wind: Westerly veering northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in northeast, decreasing 6 later in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time in northeast.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 30 Nov 2025

At 301200UTC, low 58 north 35 west 958 expected 57 north 22 west 965 by 011200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 302300UTC and 011200UTC in the southwestern quadrant within 200 and 300 miles of the centre. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section and far southwest of Denmark Strait until 302200UTC. Northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 in the south of West Northern Section after 011500UTC. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Iceland coast in East Northern Section until 010600UTC. Finally, easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the west of sea area Southeast Iceland after 302300UTC.

Wind: Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in southwest and 6 in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate at first in northeast, otherwise rough or very rough, but high in southwest.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Light or moderate icing within 100 miles of the greenland coast with temperatures ms03 to ms06, becoming severe near the ice edge in north with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

North Iceland

In north

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

In south

Wind: Southeasterly 4 to 6, backing easterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far south.
Weather: Snow showers, rain later in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor, becoming moderate or poor later in southeast. Occasional light or moderate icing in northwest with temperatures ms04 to ms07.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, veering easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough later in southwest.
Weather: Wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms are expected in Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, West Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Severe gales are expected in East Northern Section, East Central Section and north Iceland. Gales are expected in Sole, Shannon, Rockall and Denmark Strait.

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.