High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 010000UTC, low 49 north 24 west 1009 expected 53 north 15 west 1007 by 020000UTC. Developing Atlantic low moving rather quickly northeastwards, expected 54 north 32 west 994 by same time. Complex low 61 north 15 west 1000 and 63 north 04 west 1001 expected single centre 63 north 01 west 991 by that time. at 010000UTC, low 73 north 02 west 1003 expected 77 north 03 east 1005 by 020000UTC. New low expected 71 north 23 west 1010 by same time. New high expected 74 north 17 west 1016 by that time. at 010000UTC, high 69 north 26 west 1019 dissipating
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwest or cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough in south.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4, then east 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough in far northeast but moderate or rough elsewhere.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- In east, northerly 5 to 7, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later. in west, northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In east, moderate becoming rough. in west, slight or moderate.
- Weather
- In east, rain at first. in west, showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in east.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 or 5 at first in far east, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, then increasing 7 later in central areas, perhaps gale 8 later in central areas.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in far north, but elsewhere, moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain in south and west, fog patches later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor in south and west, then occasionally very poor later in southwest.
West Northern Section
In far northwest
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, backing northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later, then becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later in southeast, fog patches in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times in south and east but occasionally very poor in southeast.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at times, fog patches in northeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming very poor at times in northeast.
West Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4 increasing 4 to 6, then becoming westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers, becoming squally later, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in east.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 68 north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.
In area to the north of 68 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain or sleet at times.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.
North Iceland
In far southeast
- Wind
- Northerly 5 or 6 backing northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west, and later also in east, then becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, with sleet or snow at times in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in south but becoming very poor at times in north.
Norwegian Basin
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 in west and south, occasionally severe gale 9 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough, then becoming very rough later in west and south.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 2 to 4 increasing 4 to 6, then veering southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate, then becoming rough or very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in East Northern Section and West Northern Section, but with a risk of storm force winds in the north of East Northern Section. Gales expected in Faeroes, the north of East Central Section, the north of West Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Risk of gales later in Denmark Strait.
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.