Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 051200UTC, low 47 north 28 west 993 moving rather quickly northeastwards and losing its identity by 061200UTC. New lows expected 59 north 17 west 985 and 75 north 20 west 991 by same time. Low 60 north 31 west 1001 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, then veering northwesterly later in west.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough in west, then becoming very rough for a time later in west.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic mainly south 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic mainly south 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southwest 3 or 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Westerly 4 to 6 backing southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Westerly 4 to 6 backing southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 in east, perhaps severe gale 9 later in east.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in south and east.
Weather
Showers, then rain in east.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor in east.

In southeast

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough, then very rough later.
Weather
Rain, thundery at times, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In southwest

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first except in southeast, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later in north.
Weather
Rain or showers, mainly in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

In northwest

Wind
Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough becoming moderate, then occasionally slight later in north.
Weather
Rain or showers in southeast, fog patches in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

In southeast

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In southwest

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in south.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Southerly veering westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, then decreasing 3 or 4 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain, thundery at times, then showers, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south and very poor at first in north.

In western half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then backing westerly 4 to 6, then backing southwesterly later and increasing 7 at times in far northwest.
Sea state
Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate at first in far north and also later in far south.
Weather
Occasional rain, thundery at first in north, then showers, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

West Central Section

In northeast

Wind
Northwesterly backing westerly 4 to 6, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

In northwest

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in far north but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south and west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time in far north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

In southeast

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7 backing westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

In southwest

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or 4, then becoming cyclonic mainly southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Showers, then rain later in far southwest, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate later in far southwest.

Denmark Strait

In southeast

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In the rest of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in far northeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog banks, but fair in far northeast.
Visibility
Good in far northeast, but elsewhere moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly, veering northerly later in far northwest, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers, fog patches in south and east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south and east.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in far southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in far southeast, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle at times, then rain later in far southeast, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

In area to the west of 05 east

Wind
Westerly backing southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, then backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers then fair, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

In area to the east of 05 east

Wind
Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Showers, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Storm force winds expected in Bailey and East Northern Section. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland. Gales expected in East Central Section, West Central Section, the south of sea area 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.

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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