Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 030000UTC, low 56 north 54 west 991 expected 58 north 46 west 995 by 040000UTC. High Scotland 1044 expected 59 north 00 east 1040 by same time. Low 62 north 43 west 999 slow-moving, losing its identity

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 03 Nov 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 03 Nov 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 04 Nov 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly in east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in northeast.
Weather: Showers in south.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: South 3 to 5 backing east or southeast 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northwest, but elsewhere smooth or slight.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: South 4 to 6 veering southwest 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in northwest.
Weather: Rain in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in northwest and 3 at first in southeast.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate at first in far east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in north and east, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, otherwise cyclonic mainly southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough until later except in southeast, otherwise rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in central and eastern areas.

West Northern Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southwest, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in west but backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later in east.
Sea state: Very rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry in west, then rain in central and eastern areas.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

In western half of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 except in far west.
Sea state: Very rough at first in far northwest, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6 until later in far southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, but becoming southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 in far west.
Sea state: Very rough at first in north, otherwise rough, but becoming moderate later.
Weather: Rain in far southeast, and later also in far east, otherwise showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in far southeast.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 03 Nov 2026

Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 032000UTC and 040200UTC in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 23 west and between 69 north and 70 north. In addition, southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 032000UTC and 040700UTC in that part of sea area north Iceland that lies between 69 north and 71 north.

In area to the west of 30 west

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough becoming rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry near greenland, then rain, turning to sleet later near greenland.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor near greenland and poor elsewhere.

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time in north, then backing southerly 4 or 5 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in north.
Weather: Rain, with sleet or freezing rain near greenland, and fog patches, then becoming mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good.

North Iceland

Storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 03 Nov 2026

Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 032000UTC and 040200UTC in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 23 west and between 69 north and 70 north. In addition, southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 032000UTC and 040700UTC in that part of sea area north Iceland that lies between 69 north and 71 north.

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time between 69 north and 71 north, but becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high later in central areas.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, with sleet or snow at times in north, but becoming fair in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming very poor at times in north, then becoming good in northwest. Light icing at first in northwest, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5 in south but 5 or 6 in north.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in north.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in West Northern Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland, but with a risk of severe gales at first in the east of sea area north Iceland.

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.