High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 241200UTC, low 58 north 15 west 947 expected 59 north 03 east 957 by 251200UTC. Low 45 north 39 west 1008 expected 48 north 32 west 997 by same time. New lows expected 62 north 30 west 992 and 64 north 37 west 989 by that time. at 241200UTC, low 70 north 10 west 991 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, veering northwest 4 to 6 later, then backing southwest.
- Sea state
- High becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West 7 to severe gale 9 veering northwest 5 to 7, backing southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Poor.
Rockall
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Westerly or northwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in Rockall until 250600UTC. Northwesterly winds will also continue to reach storm force 10 in Bailey until 250900UTC and in the southeast of East Northern Section until 242200UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in Faeroes between 250600UTC and 251500UTC. Finally, southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in the far southeast of Norwegian Basin between 250100UTC and 250500UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northwest, gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Poor.
Bailey
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Westerly or northwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in Rockall until 250600UTC. Northwesterly winds will also continue to reach storm force 10 in Bailey until 250900UTC and in the southeast of East Northern Section until 242200UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in Faeroes between 250600UTC and 251500UTC. Finally, southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in the far southeast of Norwegian Basin between 250100UTC and 250500UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northwest, gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Poor.
Faeroes
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Westerly or northwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in Rockall until 250600UTC. Northwesterly winds will also continue to reach storm force 10 in Bailey until 250900UTC and in the southeast of East Northern Section until 242200UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in Faeroes between 250600UTC and 251500UTC. Finally, southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in the far southeast of Norwegian Basin between 250100UTC and 250500UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in southeast and moderate in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Westerly or northwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in Rockall until 250600UTC. Northwesterly winds will also continue to reach storm force 10 in Bailey until 250900UTC and in the southeast of East Northern Section until 242200UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in Faeroes between 250600UTC and 251500UTC. Finally, southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in the far southeast of Norwegian Basin between 250100UTC and 250500UTC.
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in southwest.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in southeast, becoming westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, but very high at first in far southeast, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 in northwest, but decreasing 3 to 5 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing in far northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northwest, backing southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 at first in northeast, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in far northeast, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers at first in north, rain spreading from southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight near greenland coast, becoming very rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow in east, wintry showers in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east. Light icing in north with temperatures around ms03.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in southeast and later in southwest.
- Sea state
- In north moderate, occasionally slight later, elsewhere rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but sleet or snow in northwest, fog patches in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north and northwest and poor elsewhere. Light to moderate icing in far northwest, with temperatures ms03 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Westerly or northwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in Rockall until 250600UTC. Northwesterly winds will also continue to reach storm force 10 in Bailey until 250900UTC and in the southeast of East Northern Section until 242200UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in Faeroes between 250600UTC and 251500UTC. Finally, southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 for a time in the far southeast of Norwegian Basin between 250100UTC and 250500UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in northeast.
- Weather
- Fair in northeast, otherwise rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good in northeast, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storms are expected in East Northern Section and East Central Section, with storms possible in Rockall. Severe gales are expected in Bailey, Faeroes, West Central Section and Denmark Strait, with gales expected in all other areas.
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.