Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 020000UTC, low 66 north 28 west 996 expected 68 north 21 west with little change by 030000UTC. High 44 north 22 west 1035 expected 46 north 19 west 1034 by same time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 02 Jul 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 02 Jul 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 03 Jul 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7 backing west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 5 to 7 backing west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

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

East Northern Section

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 in far north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in far north.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches later in far southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming very poor at times later in far southwest.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, but becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in south and east, moderate throughout in west and north.
Weather: Showers, fog patches in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far northwest.

In southern half of the area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate in south and west.
Weather: Rain, then showers in northwest, fog banks in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north and very poor in south.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in north, moderate throughout in south.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and 3 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in north, moderate throughout in south.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in south.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic mainly southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north, increasing 7 at times later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain, perhaps thundery, fog banks, perhaps extensive fog at times.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far southeast.
Weather: Rain at times, mainly in east, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far southeast.
Weather: Rain or drizzle spreading northwards, fog banks or extensive fog in north and west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north and west and poor in south and east.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, then backing southwesterly later in west, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in far south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in far south.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

No gales expected.

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.