Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 181200UTC, low 54 north 27 west 984 expected 56 north 14 west 987 by 191200UTC. New low expected 53 north 38 west 994 by same time

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 18 May 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 18 May 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 19 May 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later except in northeast.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers, fog patches in northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor and very poor in northeast.

East Northern Section

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic later in east, 4 to 6, but 6 or 7 at first in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in far north and very rough in far south.
Weather: Showers in north, rain or drizzle in south, then later in far northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and later in far northeast.

West Northern Section

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north.
Sea state: Moderate in north, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough in south.
Weather: Occasional rain, drizzle and fog patches in south, showers in north and fog patches in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor in south and far northwest, otherwise good.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later in south.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly, 6 to gale 8, but 4 to 6 in far north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southeast, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, drizzle and fog patches in north, thundery rain or showers in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor in north, good occasionally poor in south.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches, occasional rain and freezing rain, but mainly fair in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor except in southeast.

North Iceland

In north of area

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, backing easterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, drizzle and fog patches, freezing rain later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor.

In south of area

Wind: Easterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain, drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in east, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later in east and rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales are expected in East Central Section and West Central Section.

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.