High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 281200UTC low 53 north 23 west 967 expected 61 north 40 west 946 by 291200UTC. Low 56 north 44 west 977 expected 61 north 47 west 963 by same time. Low 68 north 04 west 975 expected 68 north 06 east 998 by that time. New low expected 51 north 17 west 1000 by 291200UTC. New low expected 56 north 17 west 1001 by same time. New high expected 72 north 19 west 1013 by that time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- In west, southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic later. in east, southwesterly 4 or 5 backing southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- In west, rough or very rough. in east, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In west, rain later. in east, rain at first.
- Visibility
- In west, moderate or good. in east, moderate or good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in the west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in the west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest 5 or 6 backing south or southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers at first, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 281200UTC low 53 north 23 west 967 expected 61 north 40 west 946 by 291200UTC. Winds are initially expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 150 miles of the low centre in the southern semicircle. By 29/0001UTC winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern and eastern semicircles between 50 and 200 miles from the low centre, and are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the western and northwestern quadrants between 50 and 200 miles from the low centre. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 by 29/0300UTC in Denmark Strait south of 65 north. Winds are expected to ease in all parts by 29/1800UTC.
In northeast
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time, becoming cyclonic 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 becoming southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time, becoming southerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 281200UTC low 53 north 23 west 967 expected 61 north 40 west 946 by 291200UTC. Winds are initially expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 150 miles of the low centre in the southern semicircle. By 29/0001UTC winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern and eastern semicircles between 50 and 200 miles from the low centre, and are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the western and northwestern quadrants between 50 and 200 miles from the low centre. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 by 29/0300UTC in Denmark Strait south of 65 north. Winds are expected to ease in all parts by 29/1800UTC.
In northeast
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally 7 at first, veering southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 becoming southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 becoming southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, increasing violent storm 11 for a time, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 then northwesterly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Westerly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 281200UTC low 53 north 23 west 967 expected 61 north 40 west 946 by 291200UTC. Winds are initially expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 150 miles of the low centre in the southern semicircle. By 29/0001UTC winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern and eastern semicircles between 50 and 200 miles from the low centre, and are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the western and northwestern quadrants between 50 and 200 miles from the low centre. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 by 29/0300UTC in Denmark Strait south of 65 north. Winds are expected to ease in all parts by 29/1800UTC.
- Wind
- North of 65 north, northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6 becoming cyclonic 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and very poor later. Light or moderate icing at first, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
- Wind
- South of 65 north, easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first, becoming very high for a time.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Northerly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times, until later, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later and very poor later. Moderate icing at first, with temperatures ms04 to ms06.
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Northerly 5 or 6 veering easterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Norwegian Basin
In east
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering westerly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In west
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 backing southerly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
No storms are expected. Severe gales are expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Gales are expected in Sole, Shannon, Rockall and Bailey.
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.