Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 290000UTC, low 48 north 50 west 994 expected 58 north 38 west 957 by 300000UTC. Low 66 north 06 east 967 expected 72 north 27 east 977 by same time. Developing low moving slowly northeast, expected 55 north 02 east 991 by that time. at 290000UTC, high 66 north 22 west 1009 expected 64 north 11 west 1015 by 300000UTC

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing southwesterly later in west.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
Northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, then backing southwest later.
Sea state
Very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rockall

Wind
North or northeast 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough.
Weather
Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
North or northeast 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough.
Weather
Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Northwest 6 to gale 8 veering north 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 veering easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Very rough at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north.
Sea state
Very rough at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming very rough later everywhere.
Weather
Showers, wintry in north, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In western half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, then veering southwesterly 5 to 7 later in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first in north, otherwise rough becoming very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, wintry in north.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 290000UTC, low 48 north 50 west 994 expected 58 north 38 west 957 by 300000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 150 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 291700UTC and also violent storm force 11 at times between 50 and 100 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 300000UTC. Winds will also reach storm force 10 at times within 200 miles of the centre in the northern semicircle between 291600UTC and 300200UTC. After 300200UTC winds will also reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the west quadrant, and in addition easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the north of 62 north in West Northern Section.

In area to the north of 60 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then increasing gale 8 to storm 10.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Sleet or snow showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility
Good occasionally very poor, becoming moderate or poor later.

In area to the south of 60 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in northeast, otherwise southeasterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 later.
Sea state
Rough becoming very rough or high, then occasionally very high later.
Weather
Wintry showers at first in northeast, otherwise rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first, becoming mainly poor later.

East Central Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7 becoming variable 3 or 4, then becoming southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in north.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers then fair, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

In western half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, then veering southwesterly later.
Sea state
Rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Fair then rain, then showers later in northwest.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor.

West Central Section

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly at first in north and east, otherwise southwesterly, mainly 6 to gale 8, but 4 or 5 at first in south and east, increasing severe gale 9 at times in north and west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
Weather
Rain, perhaps thundery at times, then squally wintry showers except in far southeast.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Denmark Strait

In area to the west of 27 west

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough, then occasionally high later in far west.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 100 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

In area to the east of 27 west

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in south.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing developing later in west within 100 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

North Iceland

In southwestern half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later in far southwest.
Sea state
Very rough at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Snow showers then fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor at first. Light or moderate icing at first except in far southwest, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

In northeastern half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 later except in very far northeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
Weather
Snow showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing until later except in far southeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at first in north near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

Norwegian Basin

In western half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 or 5.
Sea state
High becoming very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather
Sleet or snow showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good later.

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 to severe gale 9 at first in north, veering northeasterly 5 to 7 later in south.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather
Rain or sleet, then sleet or snow showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, then becoming good at times later.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm force winds expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Northern Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes and East Central Section. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, 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.