Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 101200UTC, low 56 north 20 west 962 expected 57 north 14 west 963 by 111200UTC. Low 68 north 15 west 995 expected 70 north 18 west 1005 by same time. Low 58 north 33 west 985 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in east and very high later in west.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Shannon

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 101200UTC, low 56 north 20 west 962 expected 57 north 14 west 963 by 111200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the low centre in the southern quadrant until 110300UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle with this area then moving to the southeastern semicircle by 110300UTC, until 111100UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the northeastern quadrant until 110100UTC and between 200 and 300 miles of the centre in the northwestern quadrant until 110800UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 102300UTC this then moving to the southern quadrant by 111400UTC, until 111700UTC.

Wind
West or southwest gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state
High or very high, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Rockall

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 101200UTC, low 56 north 20 west 962 expected 57 north 14 west 963 by 111200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the low centre in the southern quadrant until 110300UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle with this area then moving to the southeastern semicircle by 110300UTC, until 111100UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the northeastern quadrant until 110100UTC and between 200 and 300 miles of the centre in the northwestern quadrant until 110800UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 102300UTC this then moving to the southern quadrant by 111400UTC, until 111700UTC.

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Bailey

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 101200UTC, low 56 north 20 west 962 expected 57 north 14 west 963 by 111200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the low centre in the southern quadrant until 110300UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle with this area then moving to the southeastern semicircle by 110300UTC, until 111100UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the northeastern quadrant until 110100UTC and between 200 and 300 miles of the centre in the northwestern quadrant until 110800UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 102300UTC this then moving to the southern quadrant by 111400UTC, until 111700UTC.

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Wintry showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Wintry showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 101200UTC, low 56 north 20 west 962 expected 57 north 14 west 963 by 111200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the low centre in the southern quadrant until 110300UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle with this area then moving to the southeastern semicircle by 110300UTC, until 111100UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the northeastern quadrant until 110100UTC and between 200 and 300 miles of the centre in the northwestern quadrant until 110800UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 102300UTC this then moving to the southern quadrant by 111400UTC, until 111700UTC.

In northwest

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5 at first in northwest otherwise 6 to gale 8, veering northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in southeast.
Weather
Wintry showers at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In northeast

Wind
Northeasterly, backing northerly later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 in north and storm 10 at first in south.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough in north.
Weather
Mainly fair in northwest, otherwise occasional rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good in north.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming northerly or northwesterly later, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 in far west and storm 10 at first elsewhere.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Occasional rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

West Northern Section

In north

Wind
Cyclonic, 6 to gale 8 at first in far northwest, otherwise 4 to 6, occasionally 3 until later, then increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate in northwest.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing at first in far northwest.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in far north, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southeast, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
High at first in south, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or wintry showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 101200UTC, low 56 north 20 west 962 expected 57 north 14 west 963 by 111200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the low centre in the southern quadrant until 110300UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle with this area then moving to the southeastern semicircle by 110300UTC, until 111100UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the northeastern quadrant until 110100UTC and between 200 and 300 miles of the centre in the northwestern quadrant until 110800UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 102300UTC this then moving to the southern quadrant by 111400UTC, until 111700UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic at first in northeast, otherwise westerly veering northwesterly, gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in northeast, decreasing 6 or 7 later in west.
Sea state
High or very high, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Occasional rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry at first.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally good later in west.

In south

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later southwest.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high in far northeast.
Weather
Squally showers, wintry at first.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

West Central Section

In northeastern half of area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in east.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally until later and perhaps wintry at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In southwestern half of area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in northeast, backing southerly or southeasterly later in southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northeast.
Weather
Showers in north and east, perhaps wintry and squally at first, rain later in far southwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in far southwest.

Denmark Strait

In east

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7, but 7 to severe gale 9 in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Occasional snow.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later. Occasional light or moderate icing, mainly in north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

In west

Wind
Northeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in far west, otherwise cyclonic mainly northeasterly, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times until later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Sleet and snow showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing at first in far west with temperatures around ms02.

North Iceland

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in far west and northwest, mainly near the ice edge, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in far south, perhaps severe gale 9 later in far south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
Weather
Occasional sleet, snow or wintry showers, mainly in north and west, rain and sleet at times later in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing in far west and northwest near the ice edge, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in west, otherwise southerly or southwesterly backing easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in south and west, occasionally severe gale 9 later in southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east, occasionally high later in west.
Weather
Showers at first, rain later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms expected in Denmark Strait with a risk of storms in East Northern Section and Norwegian Basin. Severe gales expected in Shannon, Rockall, Southeast Iceland and both central sections with gales in all other areas.

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.