Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 010000UTC, low 45 north 47 west 989 expected 56 north 45 west 962 by 020000UTC. High 52 north 18 west 1039 expected 56 north 10 west 1042 by same time. Low 62 north 05 east 1025 losing its identity

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 01 Nov 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 01 Nov 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 02 Nov 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain at first in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in west.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain and showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north until later.

West Northern Section

In southern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, fog banks for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming very poor for a time.

In far northwest

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers, then sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

In northeast

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Rain or showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

In northwest

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Rain and showers later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

In southeast

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

In southwest

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

West Central Section

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 01 Nov 2026

At 010000UTC, low 45 north 47 west 989 expected 56 north 45 west 962 by 020000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 between 150 and 300 miles from the centre in the east quadrant until 011600UTC. In addition, winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times between 200 and 250 miles from the centre in the east quadrant until 011200UTC.

In eastern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather: Mainly fair, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

In western half of the area

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise southerly or southeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in west, veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming moderate or good later.

Denmark Strait

In far west

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far west.
Weather: Occasional rain, but sleet or snow near greenland, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

In rest or area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later n east, then northeasterly 4 to 6 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, but sleet or snow near greenland, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light icing later in northeast near greenland with temperatures of ms02 or ms03.

North Iceland

In north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in north becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair, occasional rain later in far southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in far southeast.

In south

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair at first, occasional rain later, fog patches developing in far west and later in far southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far west and later in far southeast.

Norwegian Basin

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later in far north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in far north.

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair, then occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in Denmark Strait, with gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and north 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.