High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 020000UTC, low 55 north 32 west 992 expected 60 north 28 west 981 by 030000UTC. Low 63 north 02 west 994 moving slowly eastwards and losing its identity by same time. New high expected 72 north 09 west 1017 by that time. at 020000UTC, low 71 north 25 west 1010 losing its identity. High 68 north 16 west 1016 dissipating
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeasterly veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Bailey
- Wind
- East 3 to 5 veering southeast 6 to gale 8, then southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming poor for a time.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 veering easterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 later in west, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7 backing easterly 7 to severe gale 9, then becoming cyclonic later and decreasing 4 to 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in far north, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, then becoming cyclonic again later and increasing severe gale 9 at times in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then occasionally high later in south.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain in southeast, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor in southeast, but elsewhere good occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first and severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In southwest
- Wind
- Northerly 5 or 6 backing northwesterly 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 or 5 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in northwest and north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north and very poor in south.
West Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly at first in east, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in far northeast, decreasing 4 or 5 later in west and south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east, then becoming northerly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then thundery rain in southeast.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, then becoming moderate or poor in southeast.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times, and occasional sleet near the greenland coast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Mainly variable 2 to 4, but westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 in far northeast and southeasterly 4 or 5 at first in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or sleet at times, and also occasional snow at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 at first in far southeast, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in far southeast, otherwise mainly moderate, but occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in west, otherwise occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south and 4 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west, and later also in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in west and south, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first, becoming mainly fair in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Rockall and Bailey, and also at first in the northeast of West Central Section, and also later in Faeroes.
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.