High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 221200UTC, low 47 north 50 west 1007 expected 53 north 36 west 976 by 231200UTC. Low 66 north 29 west 989 expected 67 north 28 west 999 by same time. High 47 north 31 west 1032 expected 51 north 12 west 1030 by that time. New low expected 62 north 38 west 1001 by 231200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in north, otherwise rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming rough occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high at becoming rough or very rough, then rough occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 221200UTC, low 47 north 50 west 1007 expected 53 north 36 west 976 by 231200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of centre in the southwestern quadrant after 230800UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 300 miles of the low in the southwestern semicircle after 230800UTC. Winds are then also expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 and 350 miles of the low in the eastern quadrant after 231200UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in north, but gale 8 to storm 10 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in far southwest.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain later except in far north.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate occasionally poor later except in far north.
West Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 221200UTC, low 47 north 50 west 1007 expected 53 north 36 west 976 by 231200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of centre in the southwestern quadrant after 230800UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 300 miles of the low in the southwestern semicircle after 230800UTC. Winds are then also expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 and 350 miles of the low in the eastern quadrant after 231200UTC.
In area north of 61 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough until later in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate occasionally poor later.
East Central Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 221200UTC, low 47 north 50 west 1007 expected 53 north 36 west 976 by 231200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of centre in the southwestern quadrant after 230800UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 300 miles of the low in the southwestern semicircle after 230800UTC. Winds are then also expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 and 350 miles of the low in the eastern quadrant after 231200UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in southeast, but becoming very rough or high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later except in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate occasionally poor later except in far southeast.
West Central Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 221200UTC, low 47 north 50 west 1007 expected 53 north 36 west 976 by 231200UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of centre in the southwestern quadrant after 230800UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 300 miles of the low in the southwestern semicircle after 230800UTC. Winds are then also expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 and 350 miles of the low in the eastern quadrant after 231200UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5 at first in northwest, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later except in far southeast and far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, then high or very high later in northeast.
- Weather
- Showers at first in east and later in southwest, otherwise rain, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor at first in east and later in southwest, otherwise moderate occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, wintry in north and west, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In north of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, but sleet and snow at times, fog patches at first in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally very poor. Light icing until later in northwest, with temperatures of ms02 to ms03.
In south of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough until later in northwest, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storms are expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section and West Central Section. Storms are expected in Denmark Strait. Severe gales are expected in Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland and north Iceland. Gales are expected in Shannon 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.