Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 220000UTC, low 63 north 16 west expected 66 north 05 east by 210000UTC. Low 44 north 51 west 1001 expected 54 north 40 west 970 by same time. Low 66 north 32 west 982 expected 65 north 31 west 996 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northeast 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in sole and southwest fastnet, smooth or slight in irish sea, slight or moderate elsewhere
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good
Rockall
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, 7 or gale 8 at first in north Rockall, otherwise 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high at first in north Rockall, otherwise rough or very rough
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good
Bailey
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 63 north 16 west expected 66 north 05 east by 210000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 50 and 250 miles of the low centre until 230600UTC. Low 44 north 51 west 1001 expected 54 north 40 west 970 by same time. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 20 and 150 miles of the low centre from 230200UTC.
- Wind
- West severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, decreasing 7 to severe gale 9, backing south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming very rough or high
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor
Faeroes
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 63 north 16 west expected 66 north 05 east by 210000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 50 and 250 miles of the low centre until 230600UTC. Low 44 north 51 west 1001 expected 54 north 40 west 970 by same time. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 20 and 150 miles of the low centre from 230200UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor
Southeast Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 63 north 16 west expected 66 north 05 east by 210000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 50 and 250 miles of the low centre until 230600UTC. Low 44 north 51 west 1001 expected 54 north 40 west 970 by same time. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 20 and 150 miles of the low centre from 230200UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally snow showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally snow showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 63 north 16 west expected 66 north 05 east by 210000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 50 and 250 miles of the low centre until 230600UTC. Low 44 north 51 west 1001 expected 54 north 40 west 970 by same time. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 20 and 150 miles of the low centre from 230200UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in east.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing in north, occasional severe icing in far northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 later in far south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Snow showers, then rain, sleet or snow later.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
East Central Section
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 5 or 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle in northwest, good, occasionally moderate in northwest.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 63 north 16 west expected 66 north 05 east by 210000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 50 and 250 miles of the low centre until 230600UTC. Low 44 north 51 west 1001 expected 54 north 40 west 970 by same time. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 20 and 150 miles of the low centre from 230200UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, then high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, wintry showers later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 6 to gale 8 near the ice edge, but elsewhere 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
- Weather
- Snow or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light to moderate icing within 50 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms05. Occasional severe icing along ice edge, with temperatures ms04 to ms07.
North Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 63 north 16 west expected 66 north 05 east by 210000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 50 and 250 miles of the low centre until 230600UTC. Low 44 north 51 west 1001 expected 54 north 40 west 970 by same time. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 20 and 150 miles of the low centre from 230200UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Snow or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor. Light to moderate icing with temperatures ms02 to ms05, occasional severe or very severe icing within 50 miles of ice edge with temperatures ms07 to ms10.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far southeast, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high for a time in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain and snow, then snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Light to moderate icing in northwest with temperatures ms02 to ms05, occasional severe icing near ice edge with temperatures ms05 to ms08.
Norwegian Basin
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 63 north 16 west expected 66 north 05 east by 210000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 50 and 250 miles of the low centre until 230600UTC. Low 44 north 51 west 1001 expected 54 north 40 west 970 by same time. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southern semicircle within 20 and 150 miles of the low centre from 230200UTC.
In east
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming high or very high for a time.
- Weather
- Rain then squally snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
In west
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming high or very high for a time.
- Weather
- Rain then squally snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, West Central Section. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.
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.