Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 160000UTC, low Newfoundland 947 expected 56 north 33 west 943 by 170000UTC. New lows expected 57 north 41 west 943 and 61 north 35 west 946 by same time. Low 73 north 10 west 963 expected 71 north 09 west 974 by that time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5, backing south 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, backing south 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Very rough.
Weather
Rain, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Rain, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 5 to 7, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
Rain, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 5 to 7, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
Rain, thundery at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low Newfoundland 947 expected 56 north 33 west 943 by 170000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semicircle between 50 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. Winds will also reach storm force 10 in the northwestern semicircle between 200 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. In addition, winds will reach violent storm force 11 in the northern quadrant between 400 and 450 miles until 161200UTC. Finally, southwesterly winds will reach hurricane force 12 for a time between 161300UTC and 161700UTC, in the west of West Central Section.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, then cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate for a time in northwest, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Showers, wintry in north, then rain for a time.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 later in southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming high or very high, occasionally phenomenal later in far southwest.
Weather
Showers, rain for a time.
Visibility
Poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low Newfoundland 947 expected 56 north 33 west 943 by 170000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semicircle between 50 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. Winds will also reach storm force 10 in the northwestern semicircle between 200 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. In addition, winds will reach violent storm force 11 in the northern quadrant between 400 and 450 miles until 161200UTC. Finally, southwesterly winds will reach hurricane force 12 for a time between 161300UTC and 161700UTC, in the west of West Central Section.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming easterly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, then cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Wintry showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate or poor. Occasional light icing in northwest.

In south

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high, occasionally phenomenal later in far southeast.
Weather
Rain or sleet then wintry showers.
Visibility
Poor.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low Newfoundland 947 expected 56 north 33 west 943 by 170000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semicircle between 50 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. Winds will also reach storm force 10 in the northwestern semicircle between 200 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. In addition, winds will reach violent storm force 11 in the northern quadrant between 400 and 450 miles until 161200UTC. Finally, southwesterly winds will reach hurricane force 12 for a time between 161300UTC and 161700UTC, in the west of West Central Section.

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 later in northwest.
Sea state
Very rough, occasionally rough in far southeast, becoming high or very high except in southeast, occasionally phenomenal later in far northwest.
Weather
Showers at first in northeast, otherwise rain, wintry showers later.
Visibility
Good at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low Newfoundland 947 expected 56 north 33 west 943 by 170000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semicircle between 50 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. Winds will also reach storm force 10 in the northwestern semicircle between 200 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. In addition, winds will reach violent storm force 11 in the northern quadrant between 400 and 450 miles until 161200UTC. Finally, southwesterly winds will reach hurricane force 12 for a time between 161300UTC and 161700UTC, in the west of West Central Section.

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming westerly later, severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, occasionally hurricane 12 at first in west, decreasing 7 or gale 8 later in south.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming very high or phenomenal, occasionally high later in southwest.
Weather
Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low Newfoundland 947 expected 56 north 33 west 943 by 170000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southern semicircle between 50 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. Winds will also reach storm force 10 in the northwestern semicircle between 200 and 450 miles from the centre throughout. In addition, winds will reach violent storm force 11 in the northern quadrant between 400 and 450 miles until 161200UTC. Finally, southwesterly winds will reach hurricane force 12 for a time between 161300UTC and 161700UTC, in the west of West Central Section.

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high in south.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in south. Light icing developing near the ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

North Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 in southeast, backing southeasterly later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far southeast.
Weather
Occasional sleet or snow, becoming fair later in southeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing near the ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far west.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section and West Central Section, with violent storms also possible in Denmark Strait. Severe gales are expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin, with gales expected in Sole, Shannon and Rockall.

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.

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