Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 210000UTC, low 54 north 39 west 959 expected 57 north 31 west 970 by 220000UTC. New high expected 72 north 17 west 1017 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 until later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming mainly southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- East 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- North or northeast 3 to 5, veering southeast, then becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 or 5, veering easterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 210000UTC, low 54 north 39 west 959 expected 57 north 31 west 970 by 220000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 450 miles of the centre in the northern quadrant until 212200UTC and between 150 and 300 miles of the centre in the northwestern quadrant from 211200UTC until 212200UTC. Easterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in area enclosed between 60 and 63 north and west of 19 west in East Northern Section until 212200UTC. Finally, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 211500UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Easterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 in far north and storm 10 until later in south, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in far south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first except in far south, otherwise rain at times, then showers in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In south
- Wind
- Easterly gale 8 to storm 10 at first in far north, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in far south.
- Weather
- Rain at first in north and east, otherwise squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 210000UTC, low 54 north 39 west 959 expected 57 north 31 west 970 by 220000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 450 miles of the centre in the northern quadrant until 212200UTC and between 150 and 300 miles of the centre in the northwestern quadrant from 211200UTC until 212200UTC. Easterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in area enclosed between 60 and 63 north and west of 19 west in East Northern Section until 212200UTC. Finally, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 211500UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Northeasterly, 5 to 7 at first in north, otherwise gale 8 to storm 10, backing northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, and decreasing 4 to 6 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in far north.
- Weather
- Snow showers in northwest, otherwise occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Moderate or severe icing developing in far northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10 until later in northwest, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times mainly in south and east.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 210000UTC, low 54 north 39 west 959 expected 57 north 31 west 970 by 220000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 450 miles of the centre in the northern quadrant until 212200UTC and between 150 and 300 miles of the centre in the northwestern quadrant from 211200UTC until 212200UTC. Easterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in area enclosed between 60 and 63 north and west of 19 west in East Northern Section until 212200UTC. Finally, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 211500UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming very high at times in west.
- Weather
- Rain at first in far east, otherwise squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In south
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northwest and 4 in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high in north and east.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east, otherwise showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor at first in east, otherwise good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 210000UTC, low 54 north 39 west 959 expected 57 north 31 west 970 by 220000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 450 miles of the centre in the northern quadrant until 212200UTC and between 150 and 300 miles of the centre in the northwestern quadrant from 211200UTC until 212200UTC. Easterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in area enclosed between 60 and 63 north and west of 19 west in East Northern Section until 212200UTC. Finally, winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 211500UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in north, decreasing 4 to 6 later in far northwest and far southeast, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers, becoming mainly fair in south, rain later in far south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good in south.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor. Moderate or severe icing developing near the ice with temperatures ms06 to ms09.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 in northeast, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east, becoming easterly 5 to 7 in far south and far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Severe or very severe icing expected until later north of 71 north with temperatures ms12 to ms15. Occasional light icing expected north of 69 north in east with temperatures around ms03.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 in far south, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow showers, occasional rain and sleet later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms expected in East Central Section with severe gales in both northern sections and West Central Section. Gales expected in Shannon, Rockall, Southeast Iceland and Denmark Strait.
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.