Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 140000UTC, low 53 north 52 west 964 expected 61 north 26 west 958 by 150000UTC. Lows 66 north 10 west 973 and 63 north 32 west 985 losing their identities
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest backing west or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- West backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming squally later, occasional rain for a time later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Bailey
- Wind
- West backing south or southwest, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming squally later, occasional rain for a time later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate near Iceland.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 140000UTC, low 53 north 52 west 964 expected 61 north 26 west 958 by 150000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 300 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle, extending to within 400 miles of the centre in the southeastern quadrant and 500 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant by 150000UTC, and then this later becoming confined to all areas south of 60 north in East Northern Section and West Northern Section, but restricted to west of 17 west in East Northern Section, and also westerly winds of storm force 10 north of 54 north in East Central Section and West Central Section, all by 150600UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 north of 67 north in Denmark Strait, strengthening to violent storm force 11 at times from 141500UTC and gradually extending southeast throughout Denmark Strait within 100 miles of the Greenland coast, by 141800UTC, this then extends into the far northwest of West Northern Section from 142000UTC. This area then extends throughout Denmark Strait and area north of 64 north in West Northern Section by 150000UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming mainly poor later.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 mainly in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Showers at first in east, otherwise occasional rain, then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor, becoming mainly poor, occasionally very poor in west.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 140000UTC, low 53 north 52 west 964 expected 61 north 26 west 958 by 150000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 300 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle, extending to within 400 miles of the centre in the southeastern quadrant and 500 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant by 150000UTC, and then this later becoming confined to all areas south of 60 north in East Northern Section and West Northern Section, but restricted to west of 17 west in East Northern Section, and also westerly winds of storm force 10 north of 54 north in East Central Section and West Central Section, all by 150600UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 north of 67 north in Denmark Strait, strengthening to violent storm force 11 at times from 141500UTC and gradually extending southeast throughout Denmark Strait within 100 miles of the Greenland coast, by 141800UTC, this then extends into the far northwest of West Northern Section from 142000UTC. This area then extends throughout Denmark Strait and area north of 64 north in West Northern Section by 150000UTC.
In area north of 63 north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough, then high or very high later.
- Weather
- Snow showers, then rain, sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor. Occasional light icing developing in far northwest, becoming moderate at times later.
In area south of 63 north and north of 60 north
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west and far north, decreasing 5 at times in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough, then high or very high later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first.
In area south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming westerly or southwesterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing gale 8 at times later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very high occasionally phenomenal.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow at first in far north, otherwise rain at times, then squally sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 140000UTC, low 53 north 52 west 964 expected 61 north 26 west 958 by 150000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 300 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle, extending to within 400 miles of the centre in the southeastern quadrant and 500 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant by 150000UTC, and then this later becoming confined to all areas south of 60 north in East Northern Section and West Northern Section, but restricted to west of 17 west in East Northern Section, and also westerly winds of storm force 10 north of 54 north in East Central Section and West Central Section, all by 150600UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 north of 67 north in Denmark Strait, strengthening to violent storm force 11 at times from 141500UTC and gradually extending southeast throughout Denmark Strait within 100 miles of the Greenland coast, by 141800UTC, this then extends into the far northwest of West Northern Section from 142000UTC. This area then extends throughout Denmark Strait and area north of 64 north in West Northern Section by 150000UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high occasionally very high, then high or very high later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair for a time in northwest, squally wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair except in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 140000UTC, low 53 north 52 west 964 expected 61 north 26 west 958 by 150000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 300 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle, extending to within 400 miles of the centre in the southeastern quadrant and 500 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant by 150000UTC, and then this later becoming confined to all areas south of 60 north in East Northern Section and West Northern Section, but restricted to west of 17 west in East Northern Section, and also westerly winds of storm force 10 north of 54 north in East Central Section and West Central Section, all by 150600UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 north of 67 north in Denmark Strait, strengthening to violent storm force 11 at times from 141500UTC and gradually extending southeast throughout Denmark Strait within 100 miles of the Greenland coast, by 141800UTC, this then extends into the far northwest of West Northern Section from 142000UTC. This area then extends throughout Denmark Strait and area north of 64 north in West Northern Section by 150000UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Southwesterly, 6 to gale 8 at first in east, otherwise severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, veering westerly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far north, decreasing 4 to 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- High or very high occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at first in east, otherwise squally sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good in south and very poor in north.
In south
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest, veering westerly 5 to 7, backing southerly or southeasterly later in southwest, decreasing 4 at times later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at first in south and east, otherwise showers, rain later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 140000UTC, low 53 north 52 west 964 expected 61 north 26 west 958 by 150000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 300 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle, extending to within 400 miles of the centre in the southeastern quadrant and 500 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant by 150000UTC, and then this later becoming confined to all areas south of 60 north in East Northern Section and West Northern Section, but restricted to west of 17 west in East Northern Section, and also westerly winds of storm force 10 north of 54 north in East Central Section and West Central Section, all by 150600UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 north of 67 north in Denmark Strait, strengthening to violent storm force 11 at times from 141500UTC and gradually extending southeast throughout Denmark Strait within 100 miles of the Greenland coast, by 141800UTC, this then extends into the far northwest of West Northern Section from 142000UTC. This area then extends throughout Denmark Strait and area north of 64 north in West Northern Section by 150000UTC.
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6 at first in west, otherwise 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far northeast, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing gale 8 at times in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in south.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing developing near the ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms04, occasionally severe later with temperatures around ms06.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough occasionally high at first then rough later.
- Weather
- Snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing near the ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
In south
- Wind
- Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 in northwest, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times in east, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet and snow, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing near the ice edge in far northwest with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
Norwegian Basin
In east
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times in northwest and occasionally gale 8 elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally and wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In west
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storms expected in East Northern Section and West Northern Section with storms in West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Bailey, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Shannon and 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.