Waves of approximately 5–6 metres are forecast along exposed sections of Norway’s western coastline tonight and Friday 23 October 2026, as Storm Austen moves across southern Britain towards the North Sea and a new named storm arises.
Storm Austen is expected to weaken as it moves eastwards into the North Sea on Friday. But a separate, potentially stronger weather system, now named Storm Boelo, could bring further disruption to exposed coastal areas of Norway over the weekend.
What could the waves mean for Norway?
Waves of 5–6 metres, potentially reaching 8 metres locally on Sunday, could create very rough to high seas along exposed sections of Norway’s western coastline. This could make conditions dangerous for smaller vessels and disrupt ferry and other coastal transport services.
The greatest risk would be around exposed islands, headlands, harbours and breakwaters, where powerful waves could crash over harbour walls and sweep people off rocks or piers. Where high waves coincide with elevated sea levels, coastal roads and infrastructure close to the water could also be at risk.
Conditions would vary considerably along the coast. While exposed areas facing the North Sea could see the largest waves, sheltered fjords and harbours, including much of Bergen, would generally experience much lower wave heights.
Gale and yellow weather warnings
MET Norway has issued yellow marine wind warnings along sections of the western coastline, including Slåtterøy–Fedje, Fedje–Bulandet and Måløy–Stad. These cover Thursday into Friday morning, before the main weekend storm.
Winds of around 20 metres per second are forecast in affected coastal waters, with MET Norway warning that conditions will be dangerous for small boats.
Separate weather warnings for Storm Boelo’s expected impact on Sunday could still be issued as meteorologists refine the forecast.
For location-specific marine conditions, consult the Norwegian Coastal Administration’s official wave forecast map.
Further reading & sources
