Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 300000UTC, low 72 north 06 east 1000 expected 67 north 08 west 997 by 310000UTC. Low 48 north 48 west 1006 expected 47 north 35 west 1008 by same time. New low expected 68 north 30 west 1015 by that time. at 300000UTC, high 57 north 35 west 1025 slow-moving, intensifying 1026 by 310000UTC. Low 58 north 09 west 1006 moving slowly east-northeastwards and losing its identity. Low 66 north 00 east 997 moving slowly northeastwards and losing its identity

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 30 Jul 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 30 Jul 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 31 Jul 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Bailey

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly mainly 3 to 5, but 6 at first in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers, thundery at first in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming west or northwest 3 to 5, backing west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, backing westerly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Variable 3 or less at first in northeast, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in northeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north, moderate throughout in south.
Weather: Rain at first in northeast, otherwise showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

West Northern Section

In east

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

In northwest

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In southwest

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

East Central Section

In northeastern half of the area

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5 in far northeast, but elsewhere variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

In southwestern half of the area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain except in far north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in far north.

West Central Section

In area to the north of 53 north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight at first in west, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

In area to the south of 53 north

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, thundery at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in far east and becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later in southeast, 4 to 6, but increasing 6 to gale 8 later to the east of Iceland in far south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in north and west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times except in far northwest, fog patches developing in northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times except in far northwest, but occasionally very poor in northeast.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly for a time in west, mainly 4 to 6, but decreasing 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in Norwegian Basin, mainly near the coast. Risk of gales in East Central Section, West Central Section and the far south of sea area 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.