Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 090000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving very rapidly northeastwards, expected 54 north 37 west 985 by 100000UTC. Low 60 north 37 west 979 expected 64 north 23 west 971 by same time. Developing low moving steadily north-northeastwards, expected 74 north 11 west 984 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough except in far east.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, wintry at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, wintry at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south but decreasing 4 to 6 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in north.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then becoming cyclonic later and decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in east, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in southeast.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate in far northwest and becoming high for a time in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet, snow or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing at times in far northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high in east and south but rough or very rough in west and north.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers, then rain or snow in south and east.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in west and north.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then increasing severe gale 9 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in southeast, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in southeast.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 090000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving very rapidly northeastwards, expected 54 north 37 west 985 by 100000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 after 100400UTC in that part of West Central Section that lies both east of 35 west and north of 52 north. Also, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 100500UTC in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 26 west and between 67 north and 69 north.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, then showers later in north and west, perhaps turning wintry.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or snow at times, then squally sleet or snow showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 090000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving very rapidly northeastwards, expected 54 north 37 west 985 by 100000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 after 100400UTC in that part of West Central Section that lies both east of 35 west and north of 52 north. Also, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 100500UTC in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 26 west and between 67 north and 69 north.
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northeasterly 6 to gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing except in southeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing developing later in east near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms08.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing developing, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but occasional severe icing developing later near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then sleet or snow in west but rain or sleet in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west and poor in east. Light or moderate icing developing later in northwest, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 until later in northwest, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first between 04 east and 07 east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in East Northern Section, East Central Section and West Central Section. Storm force winds expected in Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Severe gales expected in Shannon, Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Sole.
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.