Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 111200UTC, low 58 north 12 west 965 expected 59 north 09 west 975 by 121200UTC. Low 69 north 16 west 1006, low 63 north 32 west 1005, and low 48 north 43 west 990 all lose their identities. New low 48 north 43 west 990 expected by 121200UTC. .

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 12 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, but occasionally very high at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic, gale 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic, gale 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic gale 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly easterly or northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9 in north, but 4 to 6 in south, becoming 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming mainly westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east and northeast, decreasing 2 to 4 later in far northeast near iceland.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but occasionally high at first in east.
Weather: Occasional.
Visibility: Rain and wintry, squally or thundery showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, but becoming mainly northerly 6 to gale 8 later in northeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in far northwest.
Weather: Wintry showers, mainly in northeast at first, then thundery rain spreading from southwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, becoming mainly westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5 later, but cyclonic 4 to 6 later in far southwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in east, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain or thundery showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Mainly westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate for a time in west, but high at first in northeast and moderate later in southwest.
Weather: Showers, squally and perhaps wintry at first, rain later in south.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 11 Apr 2026

Northeasterly winds will occasionally increase storm force 10 in the Denmark Strait close to or over the ice, between 67 and 69 north, and west of 21 west from 121100UTC.

In an area south of 68 north and west of 29 west

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Fair, then sleet or snow later in east.
Visibility: Good, but moderate or very poor later in east. Light or moderate icing in northwest with temperatures ms02 to ms04, but occasional severe icing later in north with temperatures around ms05.

In rest of the area

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Sleet or snow spreading south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming moderate to very poor.

North Iceland

Wind: North of 71 north, cyclonic 2 to 4, but 4 to 6 in far west, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south.
Sea state: Sleet and snow at times, moderate to poor, occasionally good at first, but very poor at times later.
Weather: Occasional light or moderate icing at first in northwest with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

In rest of area

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5 at first in north, otherwise 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: Rain at times, sleet or snow in northwest, moderate to poor, occasionally good, but very poor at times in west.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west and decreasing 5 at times in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southwest and moderate in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms are expected in Denmark Strait, with severe gales expected in West Northern Section, West Central Section and Norwegian Basin, and there is a risk of severe gales in Faeroes. Gales are expected in Rockall, Bailey, East Northern Section and East 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.