Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 281200UTC, low 49 north 37 west 960 moving steadily east and losing its identity by 291200UTC. New low moving steadily east expected 51 north 20 west 967 by same time. New low moving rapidly northeast expected 45 north 33 west 988 by that time. at 281200UTC, low 56 north 22 west 966 losing its identity by 291200UTC. New low expected 54 north 39 west 968 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Variable 3 at first in southwest, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- In south, southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. in north, southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- In south, rough or very rough. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
- Weather
- In south, showers. in north, rain or showers.
- Visibility
- In south, moderate or good. in north, good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- In east, southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first. in west, easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- In east, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first. in west, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In east, rain or showers. in west, rain.
- Visibility
- In east, good, occasionally poor. in west, moderate or poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 281200UTC, low 49 north 37 west 960 moving steadily east and losing its identity by 291200UTC and new low moving steadily east expected 51 north 20 west 967 by same time. Westerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 south of 49 north in West Central Section in the western half of the area until 290200UTC but violent storm force 11 south of 49 north in the eastern half of the area until 290800UTC. Westerly winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 south of 49 north in East Central Section in the western half of the area until 291200UTC and then storm force 10 south of 49 north in the eastern half of the area from 290300UTC and until 291800UTC. New low moving rapidly northeast expected 45 north 33 west 988 by 291200UTC. Westerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of East Central Section from 291600UTC. Finally easterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 near the south Iceland coast in East Northern Section east of 21 west until 290100UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, severe gale 9 or storm 10 at first near south iceland, otherwise 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times in south, but occasionally gale 8 in east and at first in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough occasionally high.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in far south, otherwise squally showers, wintry in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good. Occasional light icing expected in far northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 until later in far north and northwest, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally in far north and northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 281200UTC, low 49 north 37 west 960 moving steadily east and losing its identity by 291200UTC and new low moving steadily east expected 51 north 20 west 967 by same time. Westerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 south of 49 north in West Central Section in the western half of the area until 290200UTC but violent storm force 11 south of 49 north in the eastern half of the area until 290800UTC. Westerly winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 south of 49 north in East Central Section in the western half of the area until 291200UTC and then storm force 10 south of 49 north in the eastern half of the area from 290300UTC and until 291800UTC. New low moving rapidly northeast expected 45 north 33 west 988 by 291200UTC. Westerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of East Central Section from 291600UTC. Finally easterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 near the south Iceland coast in East Northern Section east of 21 west until 290100UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in far northeast, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west and decreasing 5 at times elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in northeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at times and perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7 at first in far east, otherwise gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 until later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 281200UTC, low 49 north 37 west 960 moving steadily east and losing its identity by 291200UTC and new low moving steadily east expected 51 north 20 west 967 by same time. Westerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 south of 49 north in West Central Section in the western half of the area until 290200UTC but violent storm force 11 south of 49 north in the eastern half of the area until 290800UTC. Westerly winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 south of 49 north in East Central Section in the western half of the area until 291200UTC and then storm force 10 south of 49 north in the eastern half of the area from 290300UTC and until 291800UTC. New low moving rapidly northeast expected 45 north 33 west 988 by 291200UTC. Westerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of East Central Section from 291600UTC. Finally easterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 near the south Iceland coast in East Northern Section east of 21 west until 290100UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south and west and decreasing 4 at times elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In area south of 49 north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly severe gale 9 or storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in east, decreasing 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very high becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally thundery showers, turning wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally very poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- High.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally thundery showers, perhaps turning wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in east.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet or snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Light or moderate icing expected near the ice edge and in the north with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in far south.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing expected near the ice edge in far southwest with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far south and southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far south.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor. Light or moderate icing expected near the ice edge in far northwest with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far southeast, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers in west, mainly fair in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in west. Occasional light icing later in far northeast with temperatures ms03 or ms04.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storms expected in East Central Section and West Central Section with severe gales in Sole, Shannon, Rockall and West Northern Section. Gales expected in Bailey, East Northern Section and Denmark Strait.
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.