Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 270000UTC, low 63 north 26 west 970 expected 66 north 08 west 982 by 280000UTC. New low expected 56 north 50 west 968 by same time. High 44 north 40 west 1037 expected 47 north 24 west 1039 by that time. High 75 north 20 west 1015 dissipating.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 28 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Westerly veering northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

At 270000UTC, low 63 north 26 west 970 expected 66 north 08 west 982 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semi circle between 250 and 400 miles of low centre until 272000UTC. Winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the northwestern quadrant between 150 and 350 miles from low until 271300UTC.

Wind: West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: High or very high, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

At 270000UTC, low 63 north 26 west 970 expected 66 north 08 west 982 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semi circle between 250 and 400 miles of low centre until 272000UTC. Winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the northwestern quadrant between 150 and 350 miles from low until 271300UTC.

Wind: Southwest, veering northwest later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic then northerly later, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Poor occasionally moderate.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

At 270000UTC, low 63 north 26 west 970 expected 66 north 08 west 982 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semi circle between 250 and 400 miles of low centre until 272000UTC. Winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the northwestern quadrant between 150 and 350 miles from low until 271300UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11, decreasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later, occasionally rough later in northwest.
Weather: Snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

At 270000UTC, low 63 north 26 west 970 expected 66 north 08 west 982 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semi circle between 250 and 400 miles of low centre until 272000UTC. Winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the northwestern quadrant between 150 and 350 miles from low until 271300UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in east.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
Weather: Snow showers, then rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor. Occasional light ot moderate icing in far northwest at first and again later.

East Central Section

In north

Wind: Westerly backing southerly later, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

West Central Section

Wind: Westerly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in south, then southerly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later in north.
Weather: Snow showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

At 270000UTC, low 63 north 26 west 970 expected 66 north 08 west 982 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semi circle between 250 and 400 miles of low centre until 272000UTC. Winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the northwestern quadrant between 150 and 350 miles from low until 271300UTC.

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later. Widespread light or moderate icing until 280600utc with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Occasional severe or very severe icing near ice edge until 280400utc with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 27 Mar 2026

At 270000UTC, low 63 north 26 west 970 expected 66 north 08 west 982 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semi circle between 250 and 400 miles of low centre until 272000UTC. Winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the northwestern quadrant between 150 and 350 miles from low until 271300UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high, moderate or rough in north.
Weather: Rain and snow and snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good later. Widespread light or moderate icing in north until with temperatures ms03 to ms06. Occasional severe or very severe icing near ice edge with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force 11 expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Storm force 10 expected in Bailey and East Northern Section. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section, West Central Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in Norwegian Basin.

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.