Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 291200UTC, low 64 north 28 west 978 expected 65 north 19 west 993 by 301200UTC. Low 65 north 13 west 977 expected 64 north 01 east 989 by same time. New lows expected 64 north 40 west 997 and 68 north 00 west 989 by that time. Low 73 north 02 east 987 losing its identity.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 29 Mar 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 30 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: West or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, drizzle later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Westerly 7 to severe gale 9 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain and snow later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

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

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle, mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain and snow, wintry showers later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Occasional light to moderate icing within 50 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Isolated severe icing along ice edge north of 68 north until 300100utc, with temperatures ms05 to ms08.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but very rough or high in south.
Weather: Rain and snow in south, snow showers in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Occasional light to moderate icing within 50 miles of ice edge until 300500utc with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Isolated severe icing along ice edge north of 69 north until 300200utc, with temperatures ms05 to ms08.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east and later in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

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