Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 041200UTC, low 50 north 59 west 985 expected 60 north 38 west 951 by 051200UTC. Low 66 north 35 west 965 expected 73 north 21 west 974 by same time. Lows 74 north 13 west 960 and 63 north 00 east 995 both losing their identities by that time. at 041200UTC, high 43 north 18 west 1032 expected 48 north 04 west 1041 by 051200UTC

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 4 Feb 2025.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 4 Feb 2025 to 20:00 (UTC) on Wed 5 Feb 2025.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, perhaps gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: West or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally snow showers, rain later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 4 Feb 2025

At 041200UTC, low 50 north 59 west 985 expected 60 north 38 west 951 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in the southeastern semi-circle between 50 and 500 miles of the centre from 050000UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in West Central Section northwest of a line 45 north 40 west to 52 north 27 west from 051200UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in Denmark Strait within 150 miles of the Greenland coast from 051600UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in north Iceland south of 68 north and between 15 west and 08 west from 051800UTC.

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times in north and west, then backing southerly or southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, increasing violent storm 11 at times later except in southeast.
Sea state: High becoming high or very high later.
Weather: Squally snow showers, then rain or wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 4 Feb 2025

At 041200UTC, low 50 north 59 west 985 expected 60 north 38 west 951 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in the southeastern semi-circle between 50 and 500 miles of the centre from 050000UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in West Central Section northwest of a line 45 north 40 west to 52 north 27 west from 051200UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in Denmark Strait within 150 miles of the Greenland coast from 051600UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in north Iceland south of 68 north and between 15 west and 08 west from 051800UTC.

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, increasing violent storm 11 at times later in southeast.
Sea state: High or very high, but rough or very rough in far northwest.
Weather: Squally snow showers, occasional rain and wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, but good at first in north. Occasional light or moderate icing in northwest with locally severe icing near ice edge.

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor until later.

Wind: Westerly backing southerly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 4 Feb 2025

At 041200UTC, low 50 north 59 west 985 expected 60 north 38 west 951 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in the southeastern semi-circle between 50 and 500 miles of the centre from 050000UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in West Central Section northwest of a line 45 north 40 west to 52 north 27 west from 051200UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in Denmark Strait within 150 miles of the Greenland coast from 051600UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in north Iceland south of 68 north and between 15 west and 08 west from 051800UTC.

Wind: Southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times later in north and west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Wind: Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southerly gale 8 to storm 10, increasing violent storm 11 for a time, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Very rough becoming high or very high.
Weather: Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 4 Feb 2025

At 041200UTC, low 50 north 59 west 985 expected 60 north 38 west 951 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in the southeastern semi-circle between 50 and 500 miles of the centre from 050000UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in West Central Section northwest of a line 45 north 40 west to 52 north 27 west from 051200UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in Denmark Strait within 150 miles of the Greenland coast from 051600UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in north Iceland south of 68 north and between 15 west and 08 west from 051800UTC.

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Snow or snow showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first. Light or moderate icing within 150 miles of the greenland coast with temperatures ms02 to ms05, locally severe icing later near ice edge with temperatures ms06 to ms08.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 4 Feb 2025

At 041200UTC, low 50 north 59 west 985 expected 60 north 38 west 951 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 at times in the southeastern semi-circle between 50 and 500 miles of the centre from 050000UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in West Central Section northwest of a line 45 north 40 west to 52 north 27 west from 051200UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in Denmark Strait within 150 miles of the Greenland coast from 051600UTC. Southerly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times in north Iceland south of 68 north and between 15 west and 08 west from 051800UTC.

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times mainly in south, then becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later in south, occasionally storm 10 later in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far northeast and later in far south.
Weather: Snow showers, rain later in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing within 50 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms03.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southwesterly 7 or gale 8 at first in east, otherwise 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: High at first in east, otherwise very rough, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in Southeast Iceland and East Northern Section. Storms expected in Bailey, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes and Norwegian Basin.

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.