High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 061200UTC, low 43 north 36 west 992 expected 39 north 33 west 994 by 071200UTC. Low 77 north 03 west 981 expected 76 north 20 east 976 by same time. New low expected 66 north 35 west 1001 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- In west, variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 3 to 5. in east, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
- Sea state
- In west, slight or moderate. in east, slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 2 or 3, increasing 4 or 5 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly becoming variable, 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- In southeast, easterly or southeasterly becoming variable, 3 or less. in northwest, southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight or moderate, becoming slight. in northwest, moderate, becoming slight in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 in far north, but elsewhere, variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough in north and west.
- Weather
- Rain in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north and west.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in northwest and 2 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
West Northern Section
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and west.
- Sea state
- Rough in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain, fog banks in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south and poor in north.
In far northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow at first.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, becoming good. Risk of light icing later in very far northwest.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later in north and west, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate until later in southeast, otherwise rough.
- Weather
- Rain, with sleet for a time in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight for a time in far northeast.
- Weather
- Showers, but rain at times in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in south.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in southwest, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5, but increasing 6 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly 5 at first in far southeast and becoming southerly or southwesterly 5 for a time in far northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 within 100 miles of greenland, but then becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later in far west near the greenland coast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow within 100 miles of greenland but rain or drizzle further south and east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor within 100 miles of the greenland coast and poor further south and east. Light icing at times within 50 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming northerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Occasional snow later in south, otherwise fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor later in south.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 to severe gale 9 at first in far northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first in northeast, occasional snow later in south and fog patches in northwest, otherwise fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Moderate or severe icing at first in north and northeast, with temperatures ms05 to ms08.
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Westerly 6 to gale 8 at first in northeast, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, with sleet or snow at times in far north, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
In area to the north of 62 north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, mainly at first in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in east.
In area to the south of 62 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Storm force winds expected in East Central Section. Severe gales expected in West Northern Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Southeast Iceland, West 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.
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.