Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 180000UTC, low 59 north 27 west 952 expected 61 north 17 west 971 by 190000UTC. New low expected 58 north 40 west 973 by same time. Developing low moving slowly northwestwards, expected 68 north 18 west 979 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwest veering west 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- High, occasionally very rough in east.
- Weather
- Thundery rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
- Sea state
- High or very high.
- Weather
- Squally thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, decreasing 5 at times in south.
- Sea state
- High or very high.
- Weather
- Squally thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- In south, southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first. in north, southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Squally thundery showers.
- Visibility
- In south, poor, occasionally moderate. in north, moderate or poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, decreasing 4 at times later in north.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate later.
East Northern Section
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, squally at times, and occasionally wintry in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far south, then becoming cyclonic later in west.
- Sea state
- Very high at first in southeast, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 180000UTC, low 59 north 27 west 952 expected 61 north 17 west 971 by 190000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 400 and 500 miles from the centre in the southwest quadrant until 181500UTC. Also, northerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the north of 69 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southwestern half of West Central Section after 190400UTC. Finally, westerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 59 north in the western half of West Northern Section after 190500UTC.
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far northeast, decreasing 4 to 6, then veering easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- High, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally and wintry at times, then rain or snow later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good, but becoming very poor at times later in south.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, increasing storm 10 at times later in west to the south of 59 north.
- Sea state
- Very high at first in far southeast, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, wintry at times, then turning to sleet or snow later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor later in west.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 180000UTC, low 59 north 27 west 952 expected 61 north 17 west 971 by 190000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 400 and 500 miles from the centre in the southwest quadrant until 181500UTC. Also, northerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the north of 69 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southwestern half of West Central Section after 190400UTC. Finally, westerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 59 north in the western half of West Northern Section after 190500UTC.
In area to the north of 50 north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in west, backing southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very high, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Squally showers, then rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate later.
In area to the south of 50 north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far north, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later, increasing gale 8 at times later in far west.
- Sea state
- High, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally and perhaps thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 180000UTC, low 59 north 27 west 952 expected 61 north 17 west 971 by 190000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 400 and 500 miles from the centre in the southwest quadrant until 181500UTC. Also, northerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the north of 69 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southwestern half of West Central Section after 190400UTC. Finally, westerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 59 north in the western half of West Northern Section after 190500UTC.
In northeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far northeast, backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- High or very high becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first in far northeast, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Poor, becoming moderate or poor.
In southwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly or northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally wintry showers, turning to snow in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 180000UTC, low 59 north 27 west 952 expected 61 north 17 west 971 by 190000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 400 and 500 miles from the centre in the southwest quadrant until 181500UTC. Also, northerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the north of 69 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period. In addition, westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southwestern half of West Central Section after 190400UTC. Finally, westerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 59 north in the western half of West Northern Section after 190500UTC.
- Wind
- Mainly northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in northeast, but becoming mainly cyclonic 3 to 5 in far southeast, and also within 50 miles of the greenland coast to the south of 69 north.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high at first in south, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing to the north of 66 north, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, but becoming severe at times in northeast, with temperatures around ms05.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times, fog patches in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good. Light or moderate icing at times to the north of 68 north, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, but becoming severe at times in far west near the ice, with temperatures around ms05.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or very rough, but very rough or high in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times, but snow in far north, fog patches in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north and good in south.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time at first in east, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Mainly very rough, but occasionally rough in far northeast and high elsewhere.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in West Northern Section. Storm force winds expected in East Northern Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Rockall, East Central Section, the northwest of sea area north Iceland and Norwegian Basin, but with a risk of storm force winds in Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Bailey.
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.