Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 201200UTC, low 53 north 44 west 981 expected 63 north 32 west 982 by 211200UTC. Low 55 north 42 west 980 expected 65 north 29 west with little change by same time. High 46 north 25 west 1031 expected 49 north 05 west 1033 by that time. at 201200UTC, low 65 north 09 east 986 losing its identity by 211200UTC

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

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 20 Sep 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 21 Sep 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 or 4.
Sea state: Rough at first, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: South or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Southwest, but south or southeast at first, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southwest, but south or southeast at first, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain and fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northwest backing southeast then veering southwest later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 or 5, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind: Southeasterly, veering southwesterly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale force 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough.
Weather: Rain, perhaps thundery, then becoming mainly fair, showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, becoming moderate or good.

In southern half of the area

Wind: Southerly, veering southwesterly later, 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8, occasionally severe gale force 9 later in west.
Sea state: Rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Rain, perhaps thundery and with fog patches at first, becoming mainly fair, then showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first, becoming moderate or good.

West Northern Section

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 20 Sep 2026

At 201200UTC, low 53 north 44 west 981 expected 63 north 32 west 982 by 211200UTC. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times from 210500UTC within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait and in the far northwest of West Northern Section. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 210500UTC and 211800UTC between 57 north and 59 north in the western half of West Northern Section.

In area to the north of 60 north

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far northwest but decreasing 5 or 6 for a time in south and east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain or showers, sleet for a time in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in far northwest, becoming moderate or good later.

In area to the south of 60 north

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming westerly later, 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9, occasionally storm force 10.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in west and later elsewhere.
Weather: Rain, perhaps thundery at first in northwest, then squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or drizzle at times in north, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, but moderate or poor for a time in north.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain, perhaps thundery for a time, becoming mainly fair later, showers later in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good, becoming moderate or good later.

West Central Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in west, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough at first in northeast, otherwise very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Thundery rain at first in south and east, otherwise squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, but moderate or poor at first in south and east.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 20 Sep 2026

At 201200UTC, low 53 north 44 west 981 expected 63 north 32 west 982 by 211200UTC. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times from 210500UTC within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait and in the far northwest of West Northern Section. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 210500UTC and 211800UTC between 57 north and 59 north in the western half of West Northern Section.

In area to the north of 69 north

Wind: Northeasterly, 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
Weather: Mainly fair, rain sleet or snow later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor later.

In the rest of the area

Wind: Northeasterly, becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in east, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 in far west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, but occasionally high later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet or snow, showers later in south and east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time, then veering southwesterly 5 or 6 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north, moderate or rough in south.
Weather: Mainly fair, rain or sleet later, fog patches later in far south.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time later, occasionally very poor later in far south.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 then southerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain or drizzle later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Storm force winds expected in Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section. Gales expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland, West Central Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.

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.