Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 221200UTC,low 50 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 28 west 966 by 231200UTC. Low 66 north 07 west 962 expected 74 north 26 east 969 by same time.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 23 Mar 2026.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional drizzle at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West 4 to 6, backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: West backing south later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

At 221200UTC,low 50 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 28 west 966 by 231200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in southern quadrant 100 to 200 miles from low centre from 230100UTC. Low 66 north 07 west 962 expected 74 north 26 east 969 by same time. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in southern quadrant between 150 and 300 miles of low centre until 230500UTC.

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, but 4 to 6 at first in south, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in south.
Weather: Snow showers, becoming rain and snow, then squally showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

At 221200UTC,low 50 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 28 west 966 by 231200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in southern quadrant 100 to 200 miles from low centre from 230100UTC. Low 66 north 07 west 962 expected 74 north 26 east 969 by same time. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in southern quadrant between 150 and 300 miles of low centre until 230500UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in northwest, otherwise, very rough or high, increasing very high for a time in south.
Weather: Rain and snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Occasional light to moderate icing in west and northwest, isolated severe icing in far northwest.

East Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, but southerly 5 to 7 in far west, becoming southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far north.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in south, rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

At 221200UTC,low 50 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 28 west 966 by 231200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in southern quadrant 100 to 200 miles from low centre from 230100UTC. Low 66 north 07 west 962 expected 74 north 26 east 969 by same time. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in southern quadrant between 150 and 300 miles of low centre until 230500UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time, then becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in north.
Weather: Occasional rain, snow showers later in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 5 to 7, becoming northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light to moderate icing within 50 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Occasional severe icing near ice edge in south with temperatures ms05 to ms08 from 231200utc.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far south, decreasing 4 to 6 later, then becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later in south.
Sea state: High or very high at first in far south, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Occasional light to moderate icing in north with temperatures ms04 to ms07, occasional severe or very severe icing in northwest within 100 miles of ice edge, with temperatures ms08 to ms11.

Norwegian Basin

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 22 Mar 2026

At 221200UTC,low 50 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 28 west 966 by 231200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in southern quadrant 100 to 200 miles from low centre from 230100UTC. Low 66 north 07 west 962 expected 74 north 26 east 969 by same time. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in southern quadrant between 150 and 300 miles of low centre until 230500UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming westerly 4 to 6, then southerly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Rain and snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm force 10 expected in Bailey and East Northern Section, severe gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in 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

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.