Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

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The general synopsis for UK

At 131200UTC, low 53 north 55 west 980 expected 57 north 27 west 975 by 141200UTC.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 14 Feb 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 in west and later also east, backing westerly or southwesterly later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: North 5 to 7, backing south 3 to 5, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

In north

Wind: Cyclonic becoming easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very high later.
Weather: Wintry showers, then occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, then cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in Denmark Strait west of 33 west and within 50 miles of the Greenland coast from 140900UTC. Northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in the far northwest of West Northern Section from 141800UTC.

In northern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5 at first in east, otherwise 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times in west, occasionally storm 10 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Rain or sleet in southeast, sleet or snow in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming very poor at times in northwest. Light or moderate icing in northwest, and also severe icing at times in far northwest.

In southern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Southeasterly at first in northeast, otherwise southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 13 Feb 2026

Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in Denmark Strait west of 33 west and within 50 miles of the Greenland coast from 140900UTC. Northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in the far northwest of West Northern Section from 141800UTC.

In east

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good. Light or moderate icing within 150 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

In west

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Snow at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 150 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but locally severe or very severe icing near the ice to the south of 70 north, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

North Iceland

In rest of area

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast, veering easterly or northeasterly in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times in east and north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but locally severe or very severe icing near the ice, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

In far southeast

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms expected in East Northern Section and West Northern Section. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Bailey and Southeast Iceland. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Faeroes, East Central Section and West Central Section.

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.