Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 180000UTC, low 59 north 19 west 991 expected 61 north 18 west 993 by 190000UTC. New low expected 47 north 18 west 1005 by same time. High 55 north 47 west 1021 expected 54 north 45 west 1017 by that time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 18 Jun 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 18 Jun 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 19 Jun 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far west.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain and fog patches, thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind: Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 except in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, but 6 at first in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: In southeast, southeasterly 3 to 5. in northwest, easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: In southeast, moderate or rough. in northwest, rough, but very rough until later in west, occasionally moderate later.
Weather: In southeast, showers. in northwest, occasional rain.
Visibility: In southeast, good. in northwest, moderate or poor.

East Northern Section

In north of area

Wind: Cyclonic in southeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, but gale 8 at first in far northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south of area

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly in east, but northwesterly in west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

West Northern Section

In northeast

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, 5 or 6, increasing 7 at times in northeast.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

In southeast

Wind: Northerly 5 or 6, backing northwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

In southwest

Wind: Northerly backing northwesterly later, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north.
Sea state: Rough at first in east, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

In northwest

Wind: Northerly on northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 in far south, occasionally 6 later in north.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far east.
Weather: Rain at times, fog patches in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 in far southeast, elsewhere southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, but rough at first in far northwest.
Weather: Rain at times in southeast, elsewhere showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast.

West Central Section

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, veering easterly or northeasterly 2 to 4 in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in far northeast.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in far north, otherwise northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times later near Iceland.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in south, slight or moderate in north.
Weather: Occasional drizzle and fog patches, occasional sleet or snow in far southwest near greenland coast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

In north

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, becoming variable, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, wintry at times, fog patches in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

In south

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near Iceland, veering southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair in far northwest, elsewhere rain or drizzle with fog patches, becoming fog banks later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, but mainly good in far northwest.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly at first in north, elsewhere southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Risk of gales in West Northern Section and Norwegian Basin.

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.