Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 020000UTC, low 55 north 32 west 992 expected 60 north 28 west 981 by 030000UTC. Low 63 north 02 west 994 moving slowly eastwards and losing its identity by same time. New high expected 72 north 09 west 1017 by that time. at 020000UTC, low 71 north 25 west 1010 losing its identity. High 68 north 16 west 1016 dissipating

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, drizzle or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southeasterly veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Bailey

Wind
East 3 to 5 veering southeast 6 to gale 8, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Fair then rain, then showers later.
Visibility
Good, becoming poor for a time.

Faeroes

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 veering easterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 later in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7 backing easterly 7 to severe gale 9, then becoming cyclonic later and decreasing 4 to 6 in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first in far north, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, then becoming cyclonic again later and increasing severe gale 9 at times in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then occasionally high later in south.
Weather
Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in southeast.
Weather
Rain in southeast, otherwise showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor in southeast, but elsewhere good occasionally poor.

In southeast

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first and severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather
Rain, then showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

In southwest

Wind
Northerly 5 or 6 backing northwesterly 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 or 5 later in far west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in east.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

East Central Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in northwest and north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far north.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Southwesterly 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, drizzle or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north and very poor in south.

West Central Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Southwesterly at first in east, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in far northeast, decreasing 4 or 5 later in west and south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northeast.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Westerly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east, then becoming northerly later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then thundery rain in southeast.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate, then becoming moderate or poor in southeast.

Denmark Strait

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain at times, and occasional sleet near the greenland coast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or sleet at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind
Mainly variable 2 to 4, but westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 in far northeast and southeasterly 4 or 5 at first in far southwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain, drizzle or sleet at times, and also occasional snow at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 at first in far southeast, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state
Rough at first in far southeast, otherwise mainly moderate, but occasionally rough later in west.
Weather
Mainly fair at first in west, otherwise occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south and 4 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west, and later also in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough at first in west and south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first, becoming mainly fair in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Rockall and Bailey, and also at first in the northeast of West Central Section, and also later in Faeroes.

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.

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