Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 191200UTC, low 65 north 35 west 976 expected 64 north 35 west 986 by 201200UTC. New lows expected 56 north 13 west 994 and 51 north 01 west 1006 by same time

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Oct 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Oct 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 20 Oct 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough occasionally moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: South or southeast, becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: South or southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southerly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough, but rough in far northwest.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good occasionally moderate.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later in east.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, but sleet or snow in northwest.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate, but moderate or good occasionally very poor in northwest. Light icing until later in far northwest.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 9 later in east, then decreasing 4 to 6 later, and becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers, perhaps thundery for a time in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor, becoming good occasionally moderate.

West Central Section

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, backing westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but high at first in far north.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first, in north, mainly fair in south.
Visibility: Good occasionally moderate in north, good in south.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 19 Oct 2026

Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the north of Denmark Strait, between 68 north and 70 north, and 20 west and 22 west, after 201200UTC until 201900UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northeasterly in north and west, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in north and west, occasionally storm 10 later in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate just to the north of Iceland.
Weather: Wintry showers, but occasional sleet and snow in north and west.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor, but moderate or good occasionally very poor in north and west. Light icing in northeast, then light or moderate icing later in far northeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, then ms04 to ms05 later in far northeast.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly southerly or southeasterly in south, and easterly or northeasterly in north, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but moderate just to the north of Iceland.
Weather: Rain or drizzle in south, rain, sleet and snow in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor, but very poor in north. Occasional light icing in far north and northwest, then light or moderate icing later in north and northwest, with temperatures ms02 to ms04 in far north and northwest, then ms02 to ms05 later in north and northwest.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 5 to 7, but becoming variable 3 or 4 later in far east.
Sea state: High at first in far north, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in west, mainly fair in east.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Storms are expected in Denmark Strait. Severe gales are expected in West Central Section and north Iceland. Gales are expected in Sole, Shannon, Rockall, East Central Section and West Central Section.

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.