Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 201200UTC, low 45 north 51 west 1009 expected 58 north 30 west 985 by 211200UTC. Low 67 north 29 west 967 expected 67 north 30 west 983 by same time. Low 75 north 10 west 958 expected 73 north 10 west 969 by that time. at 201200UTC, low 72 north 20 west 966 losing its identity by 211200UTC. New low expected 66 north 33 west 983 by same time. High 50 north 33 west 1027 dissipating
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- In northwest, westerly backing southwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later. in southeast, southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 for a time, then occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- In northwest, very rough. in southeast, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwesterly, backing southerly later, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southerly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor. light icing near Iceland.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 201200UTC, low 67 north 29 west 967 expected 67 north 30 west 983 by 211200UTC. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in area enclosed north of 64 north and west of 37 west in both West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, decreasing to storm force 10 and becoming restricted to West Northern Section north of 64 north and west of 38 west by 210800UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 elsewhere north of 63 north in West Northern Section and south of 66 north in Denmark Strait until 210800UTC but occasionally violent storm force 11 in this area of West Northern Section until 210400UTC. At 201200UTC, low 75 north 10 west 958 expected 73 north 10 west 969 by 211200UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 near the ice in the far northwest of area north Iceland throughout. At 201200UTC, low 45 north 51 west 1009 expected 58 north 30 west 985 by 211200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 211500UTC, increasing to violent storm force 11 at times from 211800UTC.
In area north of 59 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly gale 8 or severe gale 9 decreasing 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in north and gale 8 to storm 10 later in south, occasionally violent storm 11 later in far south.
- Sea state
- High or very high becoming very rough or high, occasionally rough later in north and very high later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Squally snow showers, occasional rain, sleet and snow later in south and east.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor. Occasional light icing in far northwest.
In area south of 59 north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly backing southerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far southwest, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later, occasionally violent storm 11 later in north.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, squally at times, occasional rain, sleet and snow for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 201200UTC, low 67 north 29 west 967 expected 67 north 30 west 983 by 211200UTC. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in area enclosed north of 64 north and west of 37 west in both West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, decreasing to storm force 10 and becoming restricted to West Northern Section north of 64 north and west of 38 west by 210800UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 elsewhere north of 63 north in West Northern Section and south of 66 north in Denmark Strait until 210800UTC but occasionally violent storm force 11 in this area of West Northern Section until 210400UTC. At 201200UTC, low 75 north 10 west 958 expected 73 north 10 west 969 by 211200UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 near the ice in the far northwest of area north Iceland throughout. At 201200UTC, low 45 north 51 west 1009 expected 58 north 30 west 985 by 211200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 211500UTC, increasing to violent storm force 11 at times from 211800UTC.
In area north of 59 north
- Wind
- Northwesterly severe gale 9 or storm 10 in far northwest near greenland coast, occasionally violent storm 11 at first, but elsewhere westerly or southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 at first north of 64 north, decreasing 6 at times mainly later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in east, becoming rough or very rough in west and moderate or rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Squally snow showers, mainly in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in east and good in west. Light icing except in far southeast, occasionally moderate in north, but severe or very severe icing in far northwest.
In area south of 59 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time in southeast, becoming westerly 6 to gale 8 later, increasing severe gale 9 at times later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in northeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers, squally at times, occasional rain, sleet and snow for a time in south and east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing in far northwest.
East Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Variable becoming southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4, increasing 6 to gale 8 in northwest and later elsewhere, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest, then veering westerly or northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fair later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in northwest.
West Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in far east, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times in east, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 3 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Fair at first in east, otherwise rain, sleet and snow, wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 for a time in northwest, occasionally gale 8 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in far northwest and moderate later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, mainly later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
In southwest
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fair later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good later in north.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 201200UTC, low 67 north 29 west 967 expected 67 north 30 west 983 by 211200UTC. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in area enclosed north of 64 north and west of 37 west in both West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, decreasing to storm force 10 and becoming restricted to West Northern Section north of 64 north and west of 38 west by 210800UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 elsewhere north of 63 north in West Northern Section and south of 66 north in Denmark Strait until 210800UTC but occasionally violent storm force 11 in this area of West Northern Section until 210400UTC. At 201200UTC, low 75 north 10 west 958 expected 73 north 10 west 969 by 211200UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 near the ice in the far northwest of area north Iceland throughout. At 201200UTC, low 45 north 51 west 1009 expected 58 north 30 west 985 by 211200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 211500UTC, increasing to violent storm force 11 at times from 211800UTC.
- Wind
- Northwesterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 at first west of 37 west, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in south, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in north and northwest and later elsewhere, decreasing 3 at times later mainly in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough near the ice, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Snow showers, squally until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing with temperatures ms03 to ms05, but severe or very severe at first in far west with temperatures ms08 to ms11.
North Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 201200UTC, low 67 north 29 west 967 expected 67 north 30 west 983 by 211200UTC. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 in area enclosed north of 64 north and west of 37 west in both West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, decreasing to storm force 10 and becoming restricted to West Northern Section north of 64 north and west of 38 west by 210800UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 elsewhere north of 63 north in West Northern Section and south of 66 north in Denmark Strait until 210800UTC but occasionally violent storm force 11 in this area of West Northern Section until 210400UTC. At 201200UTC, low 75 north 10 west 958 expected 73 north 10 west 969 by 211200UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 near the ice in the far northwest of area north Iceland throughout. At 201200UTC, low 45 north 51 west 1009 expected 58 north 30 west 985 by 211200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 211500UTC, increasing to violent storm force 11 at times from 211800UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Mainly northerly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 near the ice in northwest, otherwise cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, becoming westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 in southeast, decreasing 4 at times later in far northeast and far southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Severe or very severe icing in northwest, mainly near the ice, with temperatures ms08 to ms10 and light or moderate icing elsewhere with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
In south
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north and west, decreasing 4 to 6 later in southeast, veering westerly 6 to gale 8 later in northeast and becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally moderate later in southwest.
- Weather
- Snow showers, squally at times, rain and sleet later in far south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing in north and far west with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9 at first in east, otherwise 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally rough in far south and high in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain at first in south and east, otherwise showers, wintry at times in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in west and at first in east.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storms expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section and Norwegian Basin with storms in West Northern Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Severe gales expected in Rockall and West Central Section.
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.