Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 121200UTC, low 55 north 44 west 988 expected 62 north 34 west 990 by 131200UTC. New low expected 62 north 25 west by same time. Low 66 north 10 west 986 expected 70 north 07 west 984 by that time. Low 72 north 05 west 982 losing its identity.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 12 Sep 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 12 Sep 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 13 Sep 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 4 or less, then south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 4 or less, then south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 4 or 5, backing southwest 3 or 4, then south 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4, backing south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northeast.
Weather: Rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

East Northern Section

In north

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair then rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east and later in far west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far south.
Weather: Occasional rain, drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming very poor at times in southeast.

West Central Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

In area east of 23 west

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

In area west of 23 west

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches later, moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
Visibility

North Iceland

In west

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north.
Sea state: Backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Weather: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Visibility: Snow at first in north, otherwise occasional rain. Very poor at first in north, moderate or good, occasionally poor. Light icing at first in far northwest with temperatures around ms03.

In east

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming westerly 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

No hazards 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.