Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 051200UTC, developing Atlantic low moving rather quickly northeastwards, expected 52 north 30 west 969 by 061200UTC. Low 48 north 53 west 980 expected 49 north 42 west 963 by same time. Low 55 north 20 west 967 expected 57 north 15 west 981 by that time

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 6 Dec 2025.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather: Squally showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, backing south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Mainly high or very high, but very rough at first in north and also later in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind: In south, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming westerly 5 to 7. in north, southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather: In south, squally showers . in north, rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

In area to the north of 58 north

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In area to the south of 58 north

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far northeast and later in far southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in far southeast.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high in southwest.
Weather: Rain or showers, with sleet in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 until later in south and east, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly 7 to severe gale 9 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then becoming westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later except in far northeast, occasionally severe gale 9 later in far northwest.
Sea state: High or very high becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, thundery at times in south.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 5 Dec 2025

At 051200UTC, developing Atlantic low moving rather quickly northeastwards, expected 52 north 30 west 969 by 061200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southwestern quarter of West Central Section between 052200UTC and 060500UTC and to the north of 47 north in the eastern half of West Central Section after 060400UTC. Low 48 north 53 west 980 expected 49 north 42 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 300 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 061000UTC. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 200 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 061200UTC.

In northeastern half of the area

Wind: Westerly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 to the north of 47 north.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough for a time in north.
Weather: Rain or showers, occasionally squally or thundery, and turning to sleet or snow at times in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in north.

In southwestern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 in south, occasionally violent storm 11 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high in south.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, occasionally thundery, and turning to sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 100 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times between 69 north and 70 north in east, with temperatures ms06 to ms08.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in far west, but elsewhere easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far north.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times in west and north, drizzle at times in east and south, fog banks except in far southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good in far southeast, but elsewhere moderate to very poor. Light or moderate icing at times in northwest, mainly near the ice, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far south and southwest, and also later in far northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south and southwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers in south and west, mainly fair in north and east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in south and west.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force winds expected in West Central Section. Severe gales expected in Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Sole, southeastern Shannon, northern Bailey and Faeroes. Risk of gales in the far southwest of sea area north Iceland.

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.