Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 031200UTC, low 68 north 20 west 1000 expected 69 north 15 west 1004 by 041200UTC. Low 63 north 35 west 1002 losing its identity by same time. New low expected 66 north 00 east 999 by that time. at 031200UTC, high 48 north 16 west 1033 expected 49 north 11 west 1032 by 041200UTC

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 03 Jul 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Fri 03 Jul 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 04 Jul 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest veering west later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest veering west later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 until later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic for a time, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate in northwest and later elsewhere.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers until later in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in south.

East Northern Section

In area to the north of 63 north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northwesterly 4 or 5 in east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first east.
Weather: Rain or showers at first in east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first in east.

In area to the south of 63 north

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in southwest.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Fog patches developing later in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in far northwest.

In southern half of the area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly later, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first in east and later in south.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, drizzle and fog banks, mainly in south.
Visibility: Mainly good in north, but elsewhere moderate to very poor.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but easterly in far southeast and southwesterly in far northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, but becoming rough at times in far north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle mainly in north and west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in north and west.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6.
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: Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly for a time in far northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain at times, fog banks, perhaps extensive fog at times in east.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Denmark Strait

In area to the west of 25 west

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches becoming fog banks later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In area to the east of 25 west

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, with freezing rain at times in north, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

In north of area

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in east.

In south of area

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 in west and later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight at first and rough later in south.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southwesterly veering northwesterly later in west, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south and east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle 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.