Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

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The general synopsis for UK

At 061200UTC, low 62 north 31 west 949 expected 67 north 27 west 963 by 071200UTC

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 7 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: In west, southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. in east, variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: In west, rough or very rough. in east, moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in southeast, very rough or high in northwest.
Weather: Fair then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Fair at first in southeast, otherwise rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: South 7 to severe gale 9 veering southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state: High, becoming very rough later in far south.
Weather: Rain, then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly 7 to severe gale 9 veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

At 061200UTC, low 62 north 31 west 949 expected 67 north 27 west 963 by 071200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southeast quadrant until 070900UTC and then between 50 and 150 miles from the centre in the south quadrant between 070900UTC and 071700UTC. Also, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait between 67 north and 71 north, mainly over ice, until 071800UTC, and also to the north of 71 north in Denmark Strait and the far northwest of sea area north Iceland, also mainly over ice, between 070200UTC and 071800UTC.

Wind: Southeasterly at first in far northwest, otherwise southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later in north, decreasing 5 to 7 in south, and later also in northeast.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain at first in far southeast, otherwise squally sleet or snow showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Poor or very poor becoming moderate to very poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

At 061200UTC, low 62 north 31 west 949 expected 67 north 27 west 963 by 071200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southeast quadrant until 070900UTC and then between 50 and 150 miles from the centre in the south quadrant between 070900UTC and 071700UTC. Also, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait between 67 north and 71 north, mainly over ice, until 071800UTC, and also to the north of 71 north in Denmark Strait and the far northwest of sea area north Iceland, also mainly over ice, between 070200UTC and 071800UTC.

In northeast

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally thundery sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

In northwest

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in far northwest.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times, squally at first in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at first in far northwest.

In south

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far northeast, then decreasing 5 to 7 in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light icing for a time in far northwest.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north.
Sea state: Mainly very rough, but high at first in north and occasionally rough later in south.
Weather: Rain for a time.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in far southeast.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly at first in south, otherwise southwesterly, mainly 4 to 6, but 7 to severe gale 9 at first in north.
Sea state: High at first in north, otherwise very rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers, squally at first in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly in west, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and west but decreasing 4 for a time in southeast.
Sea state: High at first in north, otherwise very rough.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

At 061200UTC, low 62 north 31 west 949 expected 67 north 27 west 963 by 071200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southeast quadrant until 070900UTC and then between 50 and 150 miles from the centre in the south quadrant between 070900UTC and 071700UTC. Also, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait between 67 north and 71 north, mainly over ice, until 071800UTC, and also to the north of 71 north in Denmark Strait and the far northwest of sea area north Iceland, also mainly over ice, between 070200UTC and 071800UTC.

In area within 100 miles of the greenland coast

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, mainly 6 to gale 8 to the south of 67 north, and also at first to the north of 70 north, otherwise severe gale 9 to violent storm 11.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Snow at times, and perhaps also some sleet or freezing rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Mainly light or moderate icing, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times near the ice, with temperatures ms05 or ms06.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or sleet, then squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 6 Mar 2026

At 061200UTC, low 62 north 31 west 949 expected 67 north 27 west 963 by 071200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southeast quadrant until 070900UTC and then between 50 and 150 miles from the centre in the south quadrant between 070900UTC and 071700UTC. Also, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait between 67 north and 71 north, mainly over ice, until 071800UTC, and also to the north of 71 north in Denmark Strait and the far northwest of sea area north Iceland, also mainly over ice, between 070200UTC and 071800UTC.

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in east but backing northerly or northeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 in west, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later except in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair at first in far north, otherwise rain, sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Good at first in far north, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times in northwest, with temperatures ms04 to ms07.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in west.
Weather: Rain, drizzle or sleet at times, with occasional snow in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.

Norwegian Basin

In western half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in west.
Weather: Mainly fair then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In eastern half of the area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east and south, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Fair, then occasional rain later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in West Northern Section and West Central Section. Gales expected in Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Risk of gales at first in eastern Norwegian Basin.

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.

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