Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 160000UTC, low 56 north 18 west 1012 expected 56 north 08 west 1015 by 170000UTC. Low 49 north 41 west 1007 expected 56 north 32 west 1000 by same time. Low 60 north 37 west 1008 losing its identity by same time. at 160000UTC, high 63 north 11 west 1016 slow moving, intensifying 1020 by 170000UTC.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Northerly until later in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Southwest veering west, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Rockall

Wind
South or southwest, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind
Variable, becoming east later, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Variable, becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, but easterly 3 to 5 in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, mainly in east, then rain later in southwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in southwest.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly later, then veering southwesterly later in far southwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in far west.
Sea state
Slight at first in far north, otherwise moderate.
Weather
Fair at first in far northeast, otherwise rain or drizzle at times, fog patches in south.
Visibility
Good at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate of good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in south.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in far southeast.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, then rain later, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 at first in far east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, except in far southeast.
Sea state
Slight in southeast, moderate in northwest, occasionally rough later in far northwest.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches developing in far northwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in northwest, or very poor in far northwest.

West Central Section

In southern half of area

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in far south.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In northern half of area

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times except in far west.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
Weather
Rain or showers, becoming mainly fair later in west, fog banks at first, then fog patches later in east.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good later, occasionally very poor later in east.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Variable 3 or less at first in far north, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in south, then becoming easterly 3 to 5 later in far south.
Sea state
Slight, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Occasional drizzle, rain later in far west, fog patches near greenland.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor near greenland.

North Iceland

In western half of the area

Wind
Variable becoming southwesterly, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Fog banks in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain in southeast.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in southeast.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Northwesterly veering northerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far east.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight near norway, occasionally rough later in far northeast.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in East Northern Section and West Northern 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.

Take our short survey