High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 081200UTC, low 43 north 23 west 973 expected 44 north 29 west 975 by 091200UTC. Low 54 north 01 east 1019 expected 55 north 03 east 1017 by same time. Low 53 north 33 west 999 losing its identity by that time. at 081200UTC, low 73 north 01 west 990 expected 73 north 30 east 976 by 091200UTC.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- East or southeast 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming mainly northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east and 2 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming fair in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly backing easterly or northeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in south, and becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times in north and later in south, mainly fair elsewhere.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north and later in south.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly veering northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in northwest.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times and fog patches until later, becoming mainly fair in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate to poor, occasionally very poor until later, becoming moderate or good later.
East Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, perhaps thundery, fog patches in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in west.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain with fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming mainly northerly or northwesterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in west and southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or thundery showers and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6 later, except in southeast.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
North Iceland
In far southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northeasterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in east, becoming mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain at first in south and occasional sleet or snow in north and northeast, then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing at first in north with temperatures ms03 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times in north, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, East Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland.
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.