Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 280000UTC, low 65 north 08 west 981 expected 66 north 08 east 99 by 290000UTC. Low 57 north 48 west 969 expected 61 north 38 west 967 by same time. Low 71 north 01 west 983 slow-moving filling 988 by that time. at 280000UTC, high 47 north 24 west 1039 expected 45 north 17 west with little change by 290000UTC

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northerly, backing westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest, backing southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, becoming poor later.

Rockall

Wind: Northwest, backing west or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Bailey

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

At 280000UTC, low 65 north 08 west 981 expected 66 north 08 east 999 by 290000UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Southeast Iceland until 281000UTC. Low 57 north 48 west 969 expected 61 north 38 west 967 by same time. Southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in far northwest of West Central Section until 281500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Northern Section until 281500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in West Northern Section south of 61 north from 281500UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far north of West Northern Section and in Denmark Strait from 280900UTC.

Wind: Northwest, backing west or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Occasional sleet or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

At 280000UTC, low 65 north 08 west 981 expected 66 north 08 east 999 by 290000UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Southeast Iceland until 281000UTC. Low 57 north 48 west 969 expected 61 north 38 west 967 by same time. Southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in far northwest of West Central Section until 281500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Northern Section until 281500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in West Northern Section south of 61 north from 281500UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far north of West Northern Section and in Denmark Strait from 280900UTC.

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Occasional sleet or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

At 280000UTC, low 65 north 08 west 981 expected 66 north 08 east 999 by 290000UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Southeast Iceland until 281000UTC. Low 57 north 48 west 969 expected 61 north 38 west 967 by same time. Southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in far northwest of West Central Section until 281500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Northern Section until 281500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in West Northern Section south of 61 north from 281500UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far north of West Northern Section and in Denmark Strait from 280900UTC.

Wind: Westerly, becoming cyclonic in far north, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in north, decreasing 4 to 6 later in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain or sleet for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

At 280000UTC, low 65 north 08 west 981 expected 66 north 08 east 999 by 290000UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Southeast Iceland until 281000UTC. Low 57 north 48 west 969 expected 61 north 38 west 967 by same time. Southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in far northwest of West Central Section until 281500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Northern Section until 281500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in West Northern Section south of 61 north from 281500UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far north of West Northern Section and in Denmark Strait from 280900UTC.

In north

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain or snow, then squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 50 miles of greenland coast, occasionally severe icing near ice edge.

In south

Wind: Westerly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in west, decreasing 5 to 7, then becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: High becoming very high.
Weather: Rain then squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good. Light icing later in far west.

East Central Section

In north of area

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, backing southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, then veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Fair then rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south of area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise southerly 5 to 7, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

At 280000UTC, low 65 north 08 west 981 expected 66 north 08 east 999 by 290000UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Southeast Iceland until 281000UTC. Low 57 north 48 west 969 expected 61 north 38 west 967 by same time. Southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in far northwest of West Central Section until 281500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Northern Section until 281500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in West Northern Section south of 61 north from 281500UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far north of West Northern Section and in Denmark Strait from 280900UTC.

Wind: Southerly, veering westerly or southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south, otherwise high or very high, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain and drizzle, squally wintry showers in far north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026

At 280000UTC, low 65 north 08 west 981 expected 66 north 08 east 999 by 290000UTC. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Southeast Iceland until 281000UTC. Low 57 north 48 west 969 expected 61 north 38 west 967 by same time. Southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in far northwest of West Central Section until 281500UTC. Southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Northern Section until 281500UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in West Northern Section south of 61 north from 281500UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far north of West Northern Section and in Denmark Strait from 280900UTC.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10 later, occasionally violent storm 11 near ice edge.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional snow or squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing developing with temperatures ms02 to ms05, occasionally severe icing near ice edge with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Occasional snow or squally snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Widespread light or moderate icing in north and west with temperatures ms03 to ms05, occasionally severe icing in far north and far west with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming southerly or southeasterly later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers then fair, rain later in far west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Storms expected in East Northern Section. Gales or severe gales expected remaining areas except Sole, East Central Section and West Central Section.

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.