Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 241200UTC, low 62 north 24 west 959 expected 67 north 15 west 970 by 251200UTC. New low expected 57 north 43 west 993 by same time. Highs 41 north 15 west 1025 and 65 north 09 east 1020 dissipating by that time. at 241200UTC, high 44 north 49 west 1033 expected 43 north 39 west 1030 by 251200UTC

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in west, otherwise slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in northwest.
Weather
Rain, thundery showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in northwest.
Weather
Rain, thundery showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 later in southeast.
Sea state
High or very high becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
High or very high, but in east rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
High or very high.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

East Northern Section

Storm warning
Issued:

Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 242200UTC in the northeast of East Northern Section. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 throughout the period in Denmark Strait east of 29 west. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 after 250500UTC in the far west of north Iceland.

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in northeast, becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 in south.
Sea state
High or very high becoming very rough or high, occasionally rough later near Icelandic coast and in southwest.
Weather
Occasional rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, becoming westerly or northwesterly except in northeast, then cyclonic later in south, 4 to 6, but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, but high in northeast.
Weather
Occasional rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

In far southeast

Wind
Northwesterly veering northerly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

In rest of area

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at times, mainly fair in south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in north.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning
Issued:

Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 242200UTC in the northeast of East Northern Section. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 throughout the period in Denmark Strait east of 29 west. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 after 250500UTC in the far west of north Iceland.

In area east of 29 west

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, but 5 to 7 at first in far northeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first in north, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high.
Weather
Rain at times, but sleet or snow in north and west.
Visibility
Poor or very poor.

In area west of 29 west

Wind
Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 backing northerly 6 to gale 8, then westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 in west.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough in northwest.
Weather
Occasional rain or sleet in east.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in east.

North Iceland

Storm warning
Issued:

Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 242200UTC in the northeast of East Northern Section. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 throughout the period in Denmark Strait east of 29 west. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 after 250500UTC in the far west of north Iceland.

In area north of 71 north

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 except in southeast, occasionally storm 10 later in southwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain or drizzle, with sleet or snow in northwest, fog patches later in southeast.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate to very poor.

In rest of area

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northerly severe gale 9 or storm 10 in northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in north, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in southeast.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, showers in southeast, sleet or snow later in northwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later in northwest.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, but 3 to 5 at first in far northeast, veering southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming high in northwest.
Weather
Rain at times, showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Violent storms are expected in Denmark Strait, with storms expected in north Iceland. Severe gales are expected in East Northern Section, with gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales are also possible in Rockall.

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.

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