Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 090000UTC, low 43 north 46 west 1022 expected 51 north 24 west 993 by 100000UTC. Low 64 north 27 west 972 expected 64 north 31 west 981 by same time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 10 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: In west, northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later. in east, westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: In west, showers. in east, occasional rain, then showers.
Visibility: In west, moderate or good. in east, good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: West, backing south or southeast later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in north.
Weather: Squally showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind: West, backing south or southeast later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
Weather: Squally showers, then rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in east, very rough or high in west.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

At 090000UTC, low 43 north 46 west 1022 expected 51 north 24 west 993 by 100000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the centre in the south and northeast quadrants after 100300UTC, and winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 100 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 100600UTC. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 100100UTC and 100600UTC in that part of West Central Section that lies both east of 31 west and between 50 north and 52 north, and also after 100400UTC in that part of East Central Section that lies both west of 22 west and between 49 north and 53 north. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times throughout the period within 100 miles of the Greenland coast that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 23 west and south of 70 north.

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in far northwest, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later, then becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later in southeast, occasionally storm 10 later in far southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic in northwest, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 except in southeast.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, but rough in far northwest.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers, but rain or sleet at times in north.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing in far west.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

At 090000UTC, low 43 north 46 west 1022 expected 51 north 24 west 993 by 100000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the centre in the south and northeast quadrants after 100300UTC, and winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 100 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 100600UTC. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 100100UTC and 100600UTC in that part of West Central Section that lies both east of 31 west and between 50 north and 52 north, and also after 100400UTC in that part of East Central Section that lies both west of 22 west and between 49 north and 53 north. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times throughout the period within 100 miles of the Greenland coast that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 23 west and south of 70 north.

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8 at first in north, otherwise northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in north and west.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Mainly fair at first in south, otherwise rain or squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

At 090000UTC, low 43 north 46 west 1022 expected 51 north 24 west 993 by 100000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the centre in the south and northeast quadrants after 100300UTC, and winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 100 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 100600UTC. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 100100UTC and 100600UTC in that part of West Central Section that lies both east of 31 west and between 50 north and 52 north, and also after 100400UTC in that part of East Central Section that lies both west of 22 west and between 49 north and 53 north. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times throughout the period within 100 miles of the Greenland coast that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 23 west and south of 70 north.

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, but then increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 for a time later in east.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough.
Weather: Rain, snow or squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 9 Apr 2026

At 090000UTC, low 43 north 46 west 1022 expected 51 north 24 west 993 by 100000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the centre in the south and northeast quadrants after 100300UTC, and winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 100 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 100600UTC. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 100100UTC and 100600UTC in that part of West Central Section that lies both east of 31 west and between 50 north and 52 north, and also after 100400UTC in that part of East Central Section that lies both west of 22 west and between 49 north and 53 north. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times throughout the period within 100 miles of the Greenland coast that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 23 west and south of 70 north.

In area within 100 miles of the greenland coast

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times, and perhaps also some freezing rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Mainly light or moderate icing, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, but occasionally severe icing in east, with temperatures ms05 to ms07.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in south.
Weather: Rain, sleet or snow at times, and perhaps also some freezing rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic mainly northerly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southwest.
Weather: Sleet, snow or freezing rain at times, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in south. Light or moderate icing to the north of 69 north, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, but severe icing at times near the ice, with temperatures ms05 to ms07.

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, mainly in south, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

In area to the west of 01 east

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In area between 01 east and 06 east

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

In area to the east of 06 east

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic mainly southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair, then rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Hurricane force winds expected in East Northern Section and East Central Section. Violent storm force winds expected in Rockall. Storm force winds expected in Shannon and Bailey. Severe gales expected in Sole, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and 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.