Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 190000UTC, low 65 north 38 west 971 expected 65 north 35 west 982 by 200000UTC. Low 69 north 19 west 970 moving steadily northeast and losing its identity by same time. High Norway 1040 moving rapidly away northeast by that time. at 190000UTC, low Portland 1024 losing its identity by 200000UTC. New highs expected 45 north 48 west 1036 and south Greenland 1008 by same time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Oct 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Oct 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Oct 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northeast becoming cyclonic, then south, 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in southeast.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South backing southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest backing southeast, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest backing southeast, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: High becoming very rough, occasionally rough later in northwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, but gale 8 or severe gale 9 at first in northwest, becoming cyclonic, mainly westerly or southwesterly, later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very rough occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain in east and at first also in south, elsewhere squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Oct 2026

Northwesterly piteraq winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far northwest of West Northern Section until 192300UTC.

In northwest

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southeast.
Weather: Wintry showers, squally at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In rest of area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north and west, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain at first in southeast, otherwise squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far southeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in southeast and high later in north.
Weather: Rain at first in southeast, showers in north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in southeast, otherwise cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but high at first in southeast and slight or moderate in far northeast.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow, but rain at times in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing near greenland coast in north with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

In northwestern half of area

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southeast, veering easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times, but sleet or snow in north and west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in north and west. Light to moderate icing with temperatures ms02 to ms05, becoming light later with temperatures around ms03.

In southeastern half of area

Wind: Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in south, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

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