High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 151200UTC, low 58 north 45 west 998 expected 64 north 29 west 975 by 161200UTC. Low 59 north 01 east 996 expected 65 north 15 east 990 by same time. High 46 north 29 west 1039 expected 44 north 27 west 1038 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly, backing westerly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 5 or 6, backing west or southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest 5 or 6, backing west or southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough later, then very rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northerly 5 to 7, backing southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly 5 to 7, backing southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 151200UTC, low 58 north 45 west 998 expected 64 north 29 west 975 by 161200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 150 miles of centre in the southwestern quadrant after 161500UTC.
In eastern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then westerly or southwesterly later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate occasionally poor.
In western half of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good occasionally moderate later.
West Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 151200UTC, low 58 north 45 west 998 expected 64 north 29 west 975 by 161200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 150 miles of centre in the southwestern quadrant after 161500UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later except in far north.
- Weather
- Rain, becoming mainly fair later except in northeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good later except in northeast.
East Central Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in southwest, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, occasional rain later in north.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
West Central Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good later.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming moderate, occasionally slight later in south.
- Weather
- Fair, then occasional rain and drizzle, fog patches later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in west.
Denmark Strait
In area north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, becoming mainly fair later in far west.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good later in far west.
North Iceland
In northeast of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In northwest of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 or 3 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later in far south.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate later in far south.
In south of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in west, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate occasionally poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southeast, backing southerly later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Storms are expected in East Northern Section. Severe gales are expected in Rockall, Bailey and West Northern Section. Gales are expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.
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.
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