Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 011200UTC, low 56 north 25 west 978 expected 58 north 33 west 979 by 021200UTC. New low expected 52 north 19 west 969 by same time. Low 53 north 34 west 966 moving steadily east-southeastwards and losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southeast becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 011200UTC, low 56 north 25 west 978 expected 58 north 33 west 979 by 021200UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section after 021400UTC and to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 021700UTC. New low expected 52 north 19 west 969 by same time. Easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 020500UTC and 021100UTC in the southwestern half of sea area Shannon, and also between 020600UTC and 021200UTC in that part of East Central Section that lies both east of 17 west and between 51 north and 53 north.
- Wind
- In southwest, southeasterly 7 or gale 8 increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. in northeast, southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 7 or gale 8.
- Sea state
- In southwest, very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In southwest, rain. in northeast, rain later.
- Visibility
- In southwest, moderate or poor. in northeast, moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- In southwest, southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 7 or gale 8. in northeast, cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In southwest, rain later. in northeast, showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 until later in southwest, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 011200UTC, low 56 north 25 west 978 expected 58 north 33 west 979 by 021200UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section after 021400UTC and to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 021700UTC. New low expected 52 north 19 west 969 by same time. Easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 020500UTC and 021100UTC in the southwestern half of sea area Shannon, and also between 020600UTC and 021200UTC in that part of East Central Section that lies both east of 17 west and between 51 north and 53 north.
In northwest
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in north and west but becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in south and east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, turning to snow in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming very poor in far northwest. Light or moderate icing in far northwest.
In northeast
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, veering southeasterly later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, decreasing 5 at times elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 011200UTC, low 56 north 25 west 978 expected 58 north 33 west 979 by 021200UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section after 021400UTC and to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 021700UTC. New low expected 52 north 19 west 969 by same time. Easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 020500UTC and 021100UTC in the southwestern half of sea area Shannon, and also between 020600UTC and 021200UTC in that part of East Central Section that lies both east of 17 west and between 51 north and 53 north.
In northeast
- Wind
- Southeasterly, becoming cyclonic later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in east.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first in east, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming high.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east, otherwise squally thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in far northeast, otherwise northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later, but then becoming southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough later in north.
- Weather
- Squally thundery showers, then rain or sleet later in southwest, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good later in north.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 011200UTC, low 56 north 25 west 978 expected 58 north 33 west 979 by 021200UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section after 021400UTC and to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 021700UTC. New low expected 52 north 19 west 969 by same time. Easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 020500UTC and 021100UTC in the southwestern half of sea area Shannon, and also between 020600UTC and 021200UTC in that part of East Central Section that lies both east of 17 west and between 51 north and 53 north.
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, then increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in far south, but elsewhere moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet, snow or freezing rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 100 miles of the greenland coast, mainly near the ice, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic, but southeasterly in southeast, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Sleet, snow or freezing rain at times in northwest, rain or sleet at times in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7 at first in west, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Very rough until later in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times, mainly in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in west.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in Denmark Strait. Storm force winds expected in West Northern Section. Severe gales expected in East Central Section and West Central Section. Gales expected in Shannon, Rockall, Bailey and East Northern Section. Risk of gales in south Faeroes.
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.
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.