High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 021200UTC, low 49 north 17 west 1005 expected 52 north 14 west 1004 by 031200UTC. Low 66 north 02 east 1001 expected 67 north 06 east 1007 by same time. High 58 north 32 west 1025 expected 54 north 37 west 1027 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- South or southeast becoming cyclonic mainly southwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- In south, southeasterly 5 or 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5. in north, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 backing northeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- In south, rough becoming moderate. in north, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, then thundery showers in south.
- Visibility
- In south, good, occasionally poor. in north, moderate or poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- In south, easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 backing northeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. in north, variable 3 or less becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- In south, moderate or rough. in north, moderate.
- Weather
- In south, rain. in north, rain or showers.
- Visibility
- In south, moderate or poor. in north, moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- In south, variable 3 or less becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 or 4, then increasing 5 or 6 later. in north, variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- In south, rain or showers. in north, showers.
- Visibility
- In south, moderate or good. in north, good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers in west.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in northwest and rough in far southeast.
- Weather
- Showers, mainly in east.
- Visibility
- Good.
West Northern Section
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle later in south, fog patches in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far northwest, and also poor later in south.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Central Section
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in far north and northwest, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northerly or northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
West Central Section
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Mainly variable 2 to 4, but easterly 4 or 5 in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight later in far north.
- Weather
- Showers in far south, otherwise fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally variable 2 in south, increasing 5 at times later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 or 5 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 until later in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in south and slight later in north, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Norwegian Basin
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 later in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Risk of gales in Rockall and Bailey.
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.