Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 311200UTC, low 39 north 51 west 1000 expected 52 north 45 west 972 by 011200UTC. High 49 north 22 west 1034 expected 54 north 15 west 1042 by same time. Low 56 north 45 west 1003 moving slowly northeastwards and losing its identity. Low 64 north 36 west 1003 slow-moving, losing its identity

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Oct 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Oct 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 01 Nov 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly veering northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in southeast.

Rockall

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

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest, veering west for a time, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later in east.
Weather: Showers, then rain or drizzle later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in north and east.
Weather: Showers at first in north, otherwise rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility: Good at first in north, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

West Northern Section

In southern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough, becoming very rough or high later.
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 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers, then sleet later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far south.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.

East Central Section

In northeast

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

In northwest

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6 backing southerly 3 or 4, then southeasterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Drizzle at times in far northwest, otherwise fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in far northwest.

In southeast

Wind: Northeasterly, veering easterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Fair at first except in far southeast, otherwise occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

In southwest

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain later in east, otherwise fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in east.

West Central Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 31 Oct 2026

At 311200UTC, low 39 north 51 west 1000 expected 52 north 45 west 972 by 011200UTC. 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 between 010700UTC and 011100UTC.

In eastern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly at first in north, otherwise southeasterly, 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle in far north, with fog banks for a time, then rain later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far north, then becoming poor later in west.

In western half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 for a time in west, then veering westerly 5 to 7 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high later.
Weather: Rain, perhaps thundery at times, fog banks for a time in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor for a time in north, then becoming moderate or poor later.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 until later except in far west, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5, but occasionally 6 later in far west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair to the north of 70 north, showers at first further south, wintry near greenland, then rain or sleet later in south, fog patches to the south of 70 north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor to the south of 70 north.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind: Southwesterly 6 or 7 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers at first in southeast, otherwise fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first in southeast.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later in southwest.
Weather: Rain for a time at first in far southeast, otherwise showers, fog patches in northwest.
Visibility: Mainly good, but occasionally poor at first in far southeast and becoming very poor at times in northwest.

Norwegian Basin

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly for a time later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 until later in far southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, then veering westerly or northwesterly later.
Sea state: Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Rain then fair, then rain again later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in West Northern Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait, but with a risk of storm force winds at first in West Central Section. Gales expected in East Northern Section.

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.