Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 121200UTC, low 62 north 04 west 964 expected 68 north 07 west 974 by 131200UTC. Low 46 north 19 west 994 expected 47 north 09 west 999 by same time. Low 48 north 57 west 969 expected 53 north 44 west 956 by that time.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 13 Jan 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwest, veering north later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in north.
Weather: Snow showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in north, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in the south.
Weather: Rain and snow and snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain and showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

At 121200UTC, low 62 north 04 west 964 expected 68 north 07 west 974 by 131200UTC. Southerly winds will reach storm 10 at times between 01 west and 04 east until 130100UTC. Low 48 north 57 west 969 expected 53 north 44 west 956 by that time. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm 10 or violent storm 11 at times in southern quadrant between 150 and 350 miles of low from 131000UTC.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later, perhaps violent storm 11 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, then snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

In far east

Wind: Northerly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor or very poor. Light or moderate icing within 90 miles of ice edge east of 24 west with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Wind: Elsewhere, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 90 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Occasional severe icing near ice edge with temperatures ms05 to ms07.

Norwegian Basin

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 12 Jan 2026

At 121200UTC, low 62 north 04 west 964 expected 68 north 07 west 974 by 131200UTC. Southerly winds will reach storm 10 at times between 01 west and 04 east until 130100UTC. Low 48 north 57 west 969 expected 53 north 44 west 956 by that time. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm 10 or violent storm 11 at times in southern quadrant between 150 and 350 miles of low from 131000UTC.

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm force 10 expected in West Central Section. Severe gales expected in West Northern Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Gales expected in Sole, Rockall, East Central Section, East Northern Section 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.