Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 220000UTC, developing low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 70 north 23 west 995 by 230000UTC. High 54 north 20 west 1038 expected 46 north 34 west 1035 by same time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Jul 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 Jul 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 23 Jul 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly in north, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional drizzle, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 3 at first in north, otherwise westerly 4 to 6 backing southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Mainly moderate or rough, but slight at first in far north.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

East Northern Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise southwesterly 5 or 6.
Sea state: Slight at first in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair at first in southeast, otherwise rain for a time, then drizzle or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In far northwest

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Drizzle and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

In the rest of the region

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in far west between 59 north and 61 north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west between 59 north and 61 north.
Weather: Rain at first in east, otherwise occasional drizzle or showers, becoming mainly fair later, fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5, backing westerly 2 to 4 in far north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Drizzle at times, risk of thundery showers later in far southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Mainly variable 2 to 4, but southwesterly veering westerly 4 or 5 in far northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain for a time in north, perhaps thundery, fog patches in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

West Central Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough at first in far northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Rain at times in south and east, perhaps thundery, fog banks in north and west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and east and very poor in north and west.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Cyclonic, but southerly or southwesterly in southeast, 4 to 6, but northwesterly piteraq winds developing later in far west, perhaps increasing to 7 or gale 8 in places near the coast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south.
Weather: Rain or drizzle except in far north, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight in far northwest, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Rain spreading northwards, fog banks, perhaps extensive fog at times in west.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 just east of iceland, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later except in far southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming rough in far southeast.
Weather: Rain spreading northeastwards, fog banks.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

In western half of the area

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather: Fair then rain or drizzle, fog patches developing.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate to very poor.

In eastern half of the area

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers at first.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Risk of gales in West Northern Section. Risk of northwesterly piteraq gales in the far west of Denmark Strait.

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.