Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 271200UTC, lows 64 north 14 west 987 and 55 north 40 west 995 losing their identities by 281200UTC. New low expected 53 north 22 west 989 by same time

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 27 Sep 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 27 Sep 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 28 Sep 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southeast later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6, backing southeast 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough until later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in east and moderate in west.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

In north

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8 at first in far northwest and southwesterly 6 or 7 at first in southeast, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times in west and near south Iceland.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northwest.
Weather: Showers, squally at first in far southeast and far northwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

In southeast

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 or 7, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, squally at first, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later.

In southwest

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time, then increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

West Northern Section

In northeast

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in northeast.
Weather: Showers, squally in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

In south

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, then backing northwesterly later in west, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

In northwest

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

East Central Section

In far northwest

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

In rest of area

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west and then later in east, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough at times.
Weather: Showers, then rain or showers, becoming thundery at times.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

In northeastern half of area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south, but becoming northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 in west.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in west and south.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally at times in west and south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

In southwestern half of area

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

In area east of 28 west

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, but mainly variable 2 to 4 in far northwest near greenland coast and becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in far north and far northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south.

In area west of 28 west

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7 in far southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southeast.
Weather: Showers later in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in south.

North Iceland

In southeastern half of area

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8 until later in far west, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times in south, but occasionally 7 at first in far southeast.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in west and far southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain, drizzle or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In northwestern half of area

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet and snow, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later. Light icing in northwest with temperatures around ms03.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far south near the norway coast, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough until later.
Weather: Rain then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

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

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.