High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 081200UTC, low 53 north 49 west 993 expected 61 north 33 west 987 by 091200UTC. High 47 north 22 west 1028 expected 45 north 12 west 1025 by same time. Low 74 north 20 west 990 expected 74 north 09 west 988 by that time. New low expected 65 north 37 west 987 by 091200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- In west, northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwesterly 5 to 7 later. in east, northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- In west, moderate or rough. in east, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In west, showers, rain later in west. in east, showers.
- Visibility
- In west, good, occasionally poor later in west. in east, good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northerly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Showers, rain and drizzle later, fog patches later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate occasionally poor, but very poor later in northwest.
West Northern Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches later in northeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally very poor later in northeast.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly 5 to 7, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle and fog patches, becoming mainly fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good later in west.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise southerly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in east, otherwise rain and drizzle, fog patches for a time in northwest, showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Good at first in east, otherwise moderate occasionally poor, but very poor in northwest, becoming moderate occasionally good later in west.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle and fog patches, perhaps thundery in south, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, becoming good occasionally moderate later.
Denmark Strait
In area north of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southeast, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in northwest and west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight near Iceland, then rough or very rough later in northwest and west.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain, drizzle and fog patches, turning wintry in north.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In southeast of area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later in north, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate later.
In northwest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, but northeasterly backing northerly 6 to gale 8 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle and fog patches, becoming wintry in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, but poor at first in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Risk of violent storms in Denmark Strait. Severe gales are expected in West Northern Section. Gales are expected in Sole, Shannon, Rockall, East Northern Section, East Central Section 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.