High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 311200UTC, low 62 north 07 west 1001, expected 63 north 04 west 999 by 011200UTC. Low 47 north 28 west 1007 expected 51 north 20 west 1009 by same time. New low expected 52 north 38 west 999 by that time. Low 61 north 27 west 1001, moving steadily east, losing its identity. at 311200UTC, new high expected 67 north 32 west 1016 by 011200UTC
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 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in east, then slight later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming north 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in southeast, but slight or moderate in far north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but poor at first in east and later in southwest.
West Northern Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and showers, drizzle and fog patches later in southeast.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but moderate occasionally poor later in south, but very poor later in southeast.
East Central Section
In area south of 51 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle, fog patches until later in north, becoming mainly fair for a time in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally poor and very poor until later in north, becoming good for a time in south.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 in south, but variable 2 to 4 in north, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle, fog patches at first in north, becoming thundery in south, showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally poor but very poor at first in north, becoming good later in west.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far west, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain in west, showers in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor in west, good occasionally moderate in east.
North Iceland
In southeast of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west, then southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, but sleet or snow in north.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but moderate or good occasionally very poor in north.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales are expected in East Northern Section, with a risk of severe gales in Norwegian Basin. Gales are expected in Faeroes, West Northern Section, West Central Section and north Iceland, with a risk of gales in Southeast Iceland and East Central Section.
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.