Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 170000UTC, low 61 north 22 west 962 expected 63 north 12 west 979 by 180000UTC. New low expected 72 north 02 west 975 by same time.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 18 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and again later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far west.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Shannon

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale force 9 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Sleet or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers, thundery at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south, decreasing 4 to 6, backing southerly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Snow showers, rain and snow later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northwest, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in west.
Weather: Wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Snow showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 150 miles of the Greenland coast, north of 68 north until 172300UTC. Northerly winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 50 and 100 miles of the Greenland coast, north or 69 north until 171600UTC.

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11, decreasing 4 ot 6 later, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Moderate icing within 50 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Occasional severe icing along ice edge north of 69 north with temperatures ms05 to ms08.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 17 Mar 2026

Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 150 miles of the Greenland coast, north of 68 north until 172300UTC. Northerly winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 50 and 100 miles of the Greenland coast, north or 69 north until 171600UTC.

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in northwest, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in far north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Moderate icing within 50 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Occasional severe icing along ice edge with temperatures ms05 to ms08.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southeast until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Northern Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Bailey, East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait.

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.