Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 261200UTC, low 56 north 21 west 962 splitting, expected 62 north 05 west 959 and 62 north 11 west 959 by 271200UTC. New low expected 40 north 49 west 994 by same time. Lows 65 north 25 west 983 and 66 north 01 west 981 both losing their identities

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 27 Oct 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then veering westerly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 261200UTC, low 56 north 21 west 962 splitting, expected 62 north 05 west 959 and 62 north 11 west 959 by 271200UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 271000UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both east of 20 west and south of 61 north. Westerly or northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 55 north in Rockall between 270000UTC and 270800UTC, and also in Bailey between 270100UTC and 271500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in the southern half of Faeroes after 271200UTC. Also, southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 271500UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both south of 63 north and between 02 west and 01 east. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both between 67 north and 69 north and within 100 miles of the Greenland coast.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first, becoming west or southwest gale 8 to storm 10, increasing violent storm 11 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 261200UTC, low 56 north 21 west 962 splitting, expected 62 north 05 west 959 and 62 north 11 west 959 by 271200UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 271000UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both east of 20 west and south of 61 north. Westerly or northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 55 north in Rockall between 270000UTC and 270800UTC, and also in Bailey between 270100UTC and 271500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in the southern half of Faeroes after 271200UTC. Also, southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 271500UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both south of 63 north and between 02 west and 01 east. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both between 67 north and 69 north and within 100 miles of the Greenland coast.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first, becoming west or southwest gale 8 to storm 10, increasing violent storm 11 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 261200UTC, low 56 north 21 west 962 splitting, expected 62 north 05 west 959 and 62 north 11 west 959 by 271200UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 271000UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both east of 20 west and south of 61 north. Westerly or northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 55 north in Rockall between 270000UTC and 270800UTC, and also in Bailey between 270100UTC and 271500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in the southern half of Faeroes after 271200UTC. Also, southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 271500UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both south of 63 north and between 02 west and 01 east. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both between 67 north and 69 north and within 100 miles of the Greenland coast.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time, then occasionally storm 10 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later, then becoming very high later in south.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 261200UTC, low 56 north 21 west 962 splitting, expected 62 north 05 west 959 and 62 north 11 west 959 by 271200UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 271000UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both east of 20 west and south of 61 north. Westerly or northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 55 north in Rockall between 270000UTC and 270800UTC, and also in Bailey between 270100UTC and 271500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in the southern half of Faeroes after 271200UTC. Also, southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 271500UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both south of 63 north and between 02 west and 01 east. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both between 67 north and 69 north and within 100 miles of the Greenland coast.

In eastern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later to the south of 61 north, backing westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, but moderate or rough at first in north.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in north.

In northwest

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair then rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southwest

Wind: Northwesterly backing westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east, then backing southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Northwesterly 7 or gale 8 at first in far southeast, otherwise cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate at first in northwest, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming high later in far northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, but sleet or snow at times in northwest, and also sleet at times in far west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 at first in northeast, otherwise northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Squally showers, perhaps thundery at first, then rain later in north.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.

West Central Section

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly at first in east, otherwise southwesterly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers at first in east, otherwise rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north, and later also in southwest.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 261200UTC, low 56 north 21 west 962 splitting, expected 62 north 05 west 959 and 62 north 11 west 959 by 271200UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 271000UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both east of 20 west and south of 61 north. Westerly or northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 55 north in Rockall between 270000UTC and 270800UTC, and also in Bailey between 270100UTC and 271500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in the southern half of Faeroes after 271200UTC. Also, southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 271500UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both south of 63 north and between 02 west and 01 east. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both between 67 north and 69 north and within 100 miles of the Greenland coast.

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 within 100 miles of the greenland coast between 67 north and 69 north, decreasing 6 at times elsewhere.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, but moderate or rough in far north, and also moderate or rough at first in far west.
Weather: Rain or sleet at times in southeast but sleet or snow at times elsewhere.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing to the north of 69 north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

North Iceland

In far southeast

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west and south.
Sea state: Moderate or rouigh in north, mainly rough or very rough in south, but becoming high later in far southwest.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times in north and west but rain or drizzle at times in east and south, fog patches in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in northwest, with temperatures ms04 to ms07.

Norwegian Basin

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 26 Oct 2026

At 261200UTC, low 56 north 21 west 962 splitting, expected 62 north 05 west 959 and 62 north 11 west 959 by 271200UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 271000UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both east of 20 west and south of 61 north. Westerly or northwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 55 north in Rockall between 270000UTC and 270800UTC, and also in Bailey between 270100UTC and 271500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in the southern half of Faeroes after 271200UTC. Also, southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 271500UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both south of 63 north and between 02 west and 01 east. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both between 67 north and 69 north and within 100 miles of the Greenland coast.

In area to the west of 02 west

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later, then becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.

In area between 02 west and 07 east

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, then veering southerly or southwesterly again later, increasing storm 10 at times later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Showers at first in north, otherwise rain at times.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor.

In area to the east of 07 east

Wind: Southwesterly 5 or 6 backing southeasterly 4 to 6, then veering southerly later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Storm force winds expected in East Central Section and West Central Section. Severe gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Northern Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin, but with a risk of storm force winds at first in Denmark Strait and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Shannon and Rockall.

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.