High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 080000UTC, low 41 north 22 west 980 expected 45 north 22 west 975 by 090000UTC. Low 69 north 19 west 995 expected 72 north 15 east 985 by same time. New low expected south Iceland 1010 by that time. at 080000UTC, low 53 north 40 west 1001 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming very rough at times mainly in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- East or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough, then rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 in northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 in far northwest and then later elsewhere in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers at first in southeast, otherwise rain at times, becoming fair in far northwest and then later elsewhere in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good in far northwest and then later elsewhere in north and west.
In south
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, backing easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6 later in south and becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first in east, then becoming rough at times in south.
- Weather
- Showers, but occasional rain in west and also later in south, fog patches developing in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west and also later in south, but very poor in northwest.
West Northern Section
In far northwest
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming mainly slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough, becoming slight or moderate in north.
- Weather
- Rain at times except in northwest, becoming mainly fair in north, fog patches in south.
- Visibility
- In north, good, occasionally poor at first, but in south moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, backing easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in northeast, otherwise rain at times, fog patches developing in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northwest and poor elsewhere.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southwest, then decreasing 5 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In northeastern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far east and far west, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain with fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.
In southwestern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in central part of area, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and fog patches, then showers in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming good occasionally moderate in southwest.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional snow at first in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in east. Moderate or severe icing at first north of 69 north with temperatures ms07 to ms10, otherwise occasional light icing at first between 67 and 69 north with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
North Iceland
In far southeast
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east and at first in north, becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 in west and later in east, then becoming variable 3 or 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far east, becoming slight or moderate later in northwest and west.
- Weather
- Rain in southeast and occasional sleet and snow elsewhere, then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast and very poor elsewhere, becoming good, occasionally very poor. Severe or very severe icing expected at first in far northwest near greenland with temperatures ms09 to ms12, and occasional light or moderate icing until later elsewhere in north and northwest with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in south, moderate or rough in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, East Central Section and 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.
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