Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 260000UTC, low 53 north 26 west 979 expected 58 north 17 west 954 by 270000UTC. High east Greenland 1009 expected northeast Greenland 1008 by same time. New lows expected 64 north 30 west 979 and 61 north 52 west 972 by that time. at 260000UTC, low 61 north 05 east 973 losing its identity by 270000UTC. New high expected 38 north 35 west 1025 by same time. High south Greenland 1010 dissipating

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Oct 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Poor.

Rockall

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 260000UTC, low 53 north 26 west 979 expected 58 north 17 west 954 by 270000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern quadrant after 261300UTC within 100 miles from the centre, expanding to the southwestern semicircle after 262300UTC within 150 miles from the centre. In addition, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 261400UTC and 262200UTC, in the northwest of Denmark Strait between 67 north and 69 north.

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, veering southwest 7 to severe gale 9, then west gale 8 to storm 10, perhaps violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, then high or very high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 260000UTC, low 53 north 26 west 979 expected 58 north 17 west 954 by 270000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern quadrant after 261300UTC within 100 miles from the centre, expanding to the southwestern semicircle after 262300UTC within 150 miles from the centre. In addition, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 261400UTC and 262200UTC, in the northwest of Denmark Strait between 67 north and 69 north.

Wind: Southwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough for a time.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in northwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 260000UTC, low 53 north 26 west 979 expected 58 north 17 west 954 by 270000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern quadrant after 261300UTC within 100 miles from the centre, expanding to the southwestern semicircle after 262300UTC within 150 miles from the centre. In addition, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 261400UTC and 262200UTC, in the northwest of Denmark Strait between 67 north and 69 north.

In north

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then gale 8 to storm 10 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough except to the southwest of Iceland.
Weather: Rain at times, squally showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 southwest of the low centre.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high in southeast.
Weather: Rain at times, squally showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southeast and northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, sleet later in far north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing at first in far northwest.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, backing westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Occasional rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery, mainly fair later in south.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far southeast.
Weather: Showers, squally at first, rain later in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in north.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 260000UTC, low 53 north 26 west 979 expected 58 north 17 west 954 by 270000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwestern quadrant after 261300UTC within 100 miles from the centre, expanding to the southwestern semicircle after 262300UTC within 150 miles from the centre. In addition, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 261400UTC and 262200UTC, in the northwest of Denmark Strait between 67 north and 69 north.

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time in northwest, but 4 to 6 at first in far northeast and far southwest, becoming northeasterly later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in far north and moderate at first in southwest, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high except in far north.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in far north with temperatures around ms03, becoming light to moderate with temperatures ms03 to ms05.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic in far southeast, otherwise northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest and later also in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest and far south.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times, but sleet or snow in northwest, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing developing in northwest with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic at first in north, otherwise westerly 5 to 7, backing easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in northeast.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Storms are expected in Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes and Denmark Strait, with severe gales expected in Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Central Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales are expected in Shannon, West Northern Section and East Central Section.

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.