Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 060000UTC, low 53 north 28 west 957 expected 62 north 26 west 968 by 070000UTC. Low 68 north 03 east 988 expected 64 north 09 east 1016 by same time. New lows expected, 55 north 52 west 985, 44 north 15 west 1005 and 45 north 05 west 1011 by that time.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 7 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, high at times in west.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southeast 6 to gale 8, occasional severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering south 6 to gale 8, but decreasing 3 to 5 later in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeast 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

At 060000UTC, low 53 north 28 west 957 expected 62 north 26 west 968 by 070000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle until 061900UTC. Also, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061900UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Easterly or northeasterly winds also will reach storm force 10 west of 35 west in Denmark Strait after 060900UTC, these storm force winds will extend eastwards as far as 26 west, and winds will further increase violent storm force 11 or hurricane force 12 from 061800UTC near the ice within 150 miles of the Greenland coast. And finally easterly winds will increase storm force 10 from 062300UTC to 070400UTC, in the southeast corner of the Denmark Strait and southwest corner of north Iceland, within 50 to 150 miles of the northern coast of Iceland.

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, increasing 8 to storm 10, veering south 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming mainly high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

At 060000UTC, low 53 north 28 west 957 expected 62 north 26 west 968 by 070000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle until 061900UTC. Also, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061900UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Easterly or northeasterly winds also will reach storm force 10 west of 35 west in Denmark Strait after 060900UTC, these storm force winds will extend eastwards as far as 26 west, and winds will further increase violent storm force 11 or hurricane force 12 from 061800UTC near the ice within 150 miles of the Greenland coast. And finally easterly winds will increase storm force 10 from 062300UTC to 070400UTC, in the southeast corner of the Denmark Strait and southwest corner of north Iceland, within 50 to 150 miles of the northern coast of Iceland.

Wind: Cyclonic 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 for a time close to Iceland, becoming southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later, but cyclonic 4 to 6 in far northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in north, otherwise high or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or sleet, snow at times in far north, then squally wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north, and good at times later.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

At 060000UTC, low 53 north 28 west 957 expected 62 north 26 west 968 by 070000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle until 061900UTC. Also, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061900UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Easterly or northeasterly winds also will reach storm force 10 west of 35 west in Denmark Strait after 060900UTC, these storm force winds will extend eastwards as far as 26 west, and winds will further increase violent storm force 11 or hurricane force 12 from 061800UTC near the ice within 150 miles of the Greenland coast. And finally easterly winds will increase storm force 10 from 062300UTC to 070400UTC, in the southeast corner of the Denmark Strait and southwest corner of north Iceland, within 50 to 150 miles of the northern coast of Iceland.

In area to the north of 59 north

Wind: Cyclonic mainly easterly or northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally 7 at first in west, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in east and southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high for a time in north.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers, then rain or sleet, but snow in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north and northwest, good at times later in south. Light or moderate icing in far northwest.

In area to the south of 59 north

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northerly or northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in east and 7 in west, backing mainly westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high for a time in southeast, and rough at times later in southwest.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers in west and later in east, but rain or snow until later in east.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good later.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

At 060000UTC, low 53 north 28 west 957 expected 62 north 26 west 968 by 070000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle until 061900UTC. Also, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061900UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Easterly or northeasterly winds also will reach storm force 10 west of 35 west in Denmark Strait after 060900UTC, these storm force winds will extend eastwards as far as 26 west, and winds will further increase violent storm force 11 or hurricane force 12 from 061800UTC near the ice within 150 miles of the Greenland coast. And finally easterly winds will increase storm force 10 from 062300UTC to 070400UTC, in the southeast corner of the Denmark Strait and southwest corner of north Iceland, within 50 to 150 miles of the northern coast of Iceland.

In northwestern corner of area

Wind: North of 50 north and west of 18 west, cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far north, otherwise high or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or sleet at first, then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in west, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Rain, perhaps thundery until later in east, otherwise squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

At 060000UTC, low 53 north 28 west 957 expected 62 north 26 west 968 by 070000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle until 061900UTC. Also, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061900UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Easterly or northeasterly winds also will reach storm force 10 west of 35 west in Denmark Strait after 060900UTC, these storm force winds will extend eastwards as far as 26 west, and winds will further increase violent storm force 11 or hurricane force 12 from 061800UTC near the ice within 150 miles of the Greenland coast. And finally easterly winds will increase storm force 10 from 062300UTC to 070400UTC, in the southeast corner of the Denmark Strait and southwest corner of north Iceland, within 50 to 150 miles of the northern coast of Iceland.

In northeastern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in far northeast, backing westerly 6 to gale 8, but becoming cyclonic again later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or snow at first, then squally wintry showers, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first, and good at times later.

In southwestern half of the area

Wind: Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, backing westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in far east, becoming mainly very rough later.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers, squally and occasionally thundery at first, then rain, sleet and snow later from west.
Visibility: Moderate to poor, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

At 060000UTC, low 53 north 28 west 957 expected 62 north 26 west 968 by 070000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle until 061900UTC. Also, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061900UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Easterly or northeasterly winds also will reach storm force 10 west of 35 west in Denmark Strait after 060900UTC, these storm force winds will extend eastwards as far as 26 west, and winds will further increase violent storm force 11 or hurricane force 12 from 061800UTC near the ice within 150 miles of the Greenland coast. And finally easterly winds will increase storm force 10 from 062300UTC to 070400UTC, in the southeast corner of the Denmark Strait and southwest corner of north Iceland, within 50 to 150 miles of the northern coast of Iceland.

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, 5 to 7 at first in east, but gale 8 or severe gale 9 in west, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10, but violent storm 11 or hurricane force 12 near ice later in west, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers, then rain, sleet or snow spreading northwards.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming moderate to very poor. Light or moderate icing, mainly near the ice, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, but becoming severe at times later near the ice to the north of 68 north, with temperatures ms04 or ms05.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Apr 2026

At 060000UTC, low 53 north 28 west 957 expected 62 north 26 west 968 by 070000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle until 061900UTC. Also, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061900UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Easterly or northeasterly winds also will reach storm force 10 west of 35 west in Denmark Strait after 060900UTC, these storm force winds will extend eastwards as far as 26 west, and winds will further increase violent storm force 11 or hurricane force 12 from 061800UTC near the ice within 150 miles of the Greenland coast. And finally easterly winds will increase storm force 10 from 062300UTC to 070400UTC, in the southeast corner of the Denmark Strait and southwest corner of north Iceland, within 50 to 150 miles of the northern coast of Iceland.

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, occasionally rough in southeast.
Weather: Snow showers at first in east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic mainly easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 for a time later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Mainly fair at first, then rain, sleet or snow spreading north later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west, but cyclonic 5 to 7 in east, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later in west, and becoming variable 2 to 4 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force winds expected in Denmark Strait, with hurricane force winds near the ice. Storm force winds expected in West Northern Section. Severe gales expected in Rockall, East Northern Section, West Central Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section and Norwegian Basin.

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.