Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 290000UTC, low 67 north 30 west 991 expected 74 north 12 west 998 by 300000UTC. New low expected 65 north 35 west 1002 by same time. Low 40 north 33 west 1008 expected 41 north 26 west 1005 by that time. at 290000UTC, high 58 north 01 east 1033 expected 57 north 04 east with little change by 300000UTC. High 47 north 52 west 1031 expected 50 north 44 west with little change by same time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026 to 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 30 Apr 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northeast, veering east, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough, occasionally very rough later in far south.
Weather: Showers later in southeast.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later in southeast.

Rockall

Wind: In northwest, southeasterly 3 or 4 . in southeast, southeasterly, backing easterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state: In northwest, rough, occasionally moderate at first. in southeast, moderate becoming rough.
Weather: In northwest, fair. in southeast, mainly fair.
Visibility: In northwest, good. in southeast, good, occasionally poor at first.

Bailey

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far northwest, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, wintry in northwest, fog patches in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in southeast.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 29 Apr 2026

Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section, north of 64 north and west of 39 west until 291500UTC.

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, but northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10 at first in far northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in west.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate. Light or moderate icing in far northwest throughout.

East Central Section

In northern half of area

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming variable, 2 to 4, then becoming northerly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain and drizzle in west with fog patches in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

In southern half of area

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic at first in far southeast, otherwise northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 in far northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in far northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain and drizzle in southeast then mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and east.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

North Iceland

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, but cyclonic in northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle with fog patches for a time, then snow showers in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southwesterly, backing southerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in far southeast.
Weather: Occasional rain or drizzle with fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Gales expected in West Northern Section.

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.