Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 261200UTC, low 55 north 44 west 991 expected 63 north 40 west 979 by 271200UTC. Low 49 north 46 west 991 expected 45 north 39 west 1003 by same time. High 45 north 21 west expected 53 north 13 west 1030 by that time. at 261200UTC, high 74 north 19 west 1034 expected 76 north 03 west 1033 by 271200UTC. New high expected 64 north 06 east 1031 by same time.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 27 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest becoming variable later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, 3 to 5, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

East Northern Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in central areas.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south at first, then occasionally severe gale 9 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, but very rough or high later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, snow in far north, wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing in far northwest until later.

East Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 until later in east, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

West Central Section

In east

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches developing in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in north.

In west

Wind: Southeasterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches developing in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in north.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 26 Apr 2026

Northeasterly winds will reach storm 10 or violent storm 11 at times in Denmark Strait, within 100 miles of Greenland coast south of 69 north until 271000UTC.

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing within 100 miles of greenland coast with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

In south

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and snow later.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later. Occasional light icing with temperatures ms01 to ms03.

In north

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in West Northern Section. Gales expected in East Northern Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland.

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.