High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 240000UTC, low 56 north 25 west 980 expected 58 north 05 west 948 by 250000UTC. Low 64 north 29 west 988 expected 64 north 35 west 989 by same time. New lows expected 46 north 36 west 1007, 61 north 35 west 991 and 76 north 13 west 995 by that time. Lows 63 north 16 west 988, 66 north 08 west 992 and 72 north 17 west 990 all losing their identities
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwest veering northwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time in north.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Rockall
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 240000UTC, low 56 north 25 west 980 expected 58 north 05 west 948 by 250000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 150 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 62 north in Norwegian Basin between 242300UTC and 250400UTC.
- Wind
- South 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11, then becoming northwest later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Bailey
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 240000UTC, low 56 north 25 west 980 expected 58 north 05 west 948 by 250000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 150 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 62 north in Norwegian Basin between 242300UTC and 250400UTC.
- Wind
- South 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, then becoming northwest later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 240000UTC, low 56 north 25 west 980 expected 58 north 05 west 948 by 250000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 150 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 62 north in Norwegian Basin between 242300UTC and 250400UTC.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, but mainly fair in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor except in far northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 at first in east, otherwise northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south and east, backing westerly 5 or 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in north and west, mainly very rough or high in south and east, but very high at first in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good in north and west.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, but mainly northwesterly at first, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, then becoming northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times in east, sleet or snow at times in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing in very far northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 240000UTC, low 56 north 25 west 980 expected 58 north 05 west 948 by 250000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 150 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 62 north in Norwegian Basin between 242300UTC and 250400UTC.
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far northeast, then decreasing 4 to 6 except in far northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west and south, then becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in far northeast, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers in north, rain in south, perhaps thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.
West Central Section
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 in north but becoming variable 2 to 4 in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first to the north of 71 north, and then increasing 6 to gale 8 later in far east between 68 north and 70 north.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times to the north of 68 north in the east, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far northwest and increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in east and southeast.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but occasionally very rough at first in far northwest, and also later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times in northwest but rain or sleet at times in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northwest and poor in southeast. Light or moderate icing until later in far northwest, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
Norwegian Basin
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 240000UTC, low 56 north 25 west 980 expected 58 north 05 west 948 by 250000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 at times within 150 miles of the centre in the southern and southwestern quadrants throughout the period. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 62 north in Norwegian Basin between 242300UTC and 250400UTC.
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, backing easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 in north but 7 to severe gale 9 in south, occasionally storm 10 for a time later in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough except in far east.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but mainly fair in far east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor except in far east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Storm force winds expected in Bailey and East Central Section. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, West Northern Section, 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.