High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 161200UTC, low 53 north 37 west 1002 expected 59 north 28 west 995 by 171200UTC. High 65 north 11 west 1018 slow-moving, intensifying 1020 by same time. Low 56 north 12 west 1012 losing its identity. High 59 north 18 west 1016 dissipating
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or southwest, veering northwest for a time, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 or 4, backing southwest 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming east 3 to 5, veering southeast 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Variable becoming north or northeast, 2 to 4, veering east 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4 increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in far north, otherwise moderate, but becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain except in far north, fog patches in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in southwest, and becoming poor except in far north.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in north and east, otherwise southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, then drizzle or showers later, fog patches for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor or very poor for a time.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in far west, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, backing northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in far east.
- Weather
- Fair at first in northeast, otherwise rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in northwest and cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in southeast, but becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far east.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, perhaps thundery, then showers, fog banks at first in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first in southeast, becoming moderate or good.
East Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
In northwest
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 veering westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, then showers, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor becoming moderate or good.
In south
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 or 4 at first in east and southwesterly 4 or 5 at first in west, but becoming variable 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.
West Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in northwest, otherwise southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time in far northeast but decreasing 3 or 4 in south and west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, then showers, fog banks at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, becoming good occasionally moderate.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in northeast.
- Weather
- Showers in northwest, but elsewhere rain at times, perhaps thundery, fog patches in south and east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south and east.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 68 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain in far west, fog patches near greenland.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor near greenland.
In area to the north of 68 north
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog banks, perhaps extensive fog for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later near iceland.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Westerly at first in northeast, otherwise northerly or northwesterly, then veering northeasterly later in west, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in far northeast.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming fair later except in far east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in East Northern Section. Risk of gales in north Bailey.
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.