Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 141200UTC, low 56 north 39 west 959 expected 62 north 20 west 961 by 151200UTC. Lows 58 north 42 west 961 and 69 north 06 west 982 both losing their identities by same time. New low expected 49 north 48 west 991 by that time. at 141200UTC, high 77 north 21 west 1012 expected 80 north 11 west 1008 by 151200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor later.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing south for a time, 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough or high, then very high later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming squally and perhaps wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing south for a time, 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough or high, then very high later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming squally and perhaps wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing south for a time, 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming squally and perhaps wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later near Iceland.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in north, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain, snow or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 141200UTC, low 56 north 39 west 959 expected 62 north 20 west 961 by 151200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the south of 60 north in the western half of West Northern Section until 151300UTC, to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of West Northern Section until 151700UTC and to the south of 60 north in the western half of East Northern Section throughout. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of East Northern Section after 150000UTC, to the north of 54 north in West Central Section until 150800UTC and to the north of 54 north in the western half of East Central Section until 151500UTC. Also, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in all parts of Denmark Strait to the south of 70 north except the far southeast, but gradually becoming confined to areas east of 23 west and north of 63 north by 151800UTC. These northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 64 north in West Northern Section until 151300UTC.
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far south and far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain or snow at first in north and east, otherwise showers, wintry, squally or thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming very high or phenomenal.
- Weather
- Rain at first in far east, otherwise squally showers, wintry or thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, occasionally moderate at first.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 141200UTC, low 56 north 39 west 959 expected 62 north 20 west 961 by 151200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the south of 60 north in the western half of West Northern Section until 151300UTC, to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of West Northern Section until 151700UTC and to the south of 60 north in the western half of East Northern Section throughout. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of East Northern Section after 150000UTC, to the north of 54 north in West Central Section until 150800UTC and to the north of 54 north in the western half of East Central Section until 151500UTC. Also, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in all parts of Denmark Strait to the south of 70 north except the far southeast, but gradually becoming confined to areas east of 23 west and north of 63 north by 151800UTC. These northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 64 north in West Northern Section until 151300UTC.
In area to the north of 64 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in west but becoming very high for a time in east.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in west. Light or moderate icing at times in west.
In area between 60 north and 64 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in west, then decreasing 5 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain, snow or wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming phenomenal for a time in east.
- Weather
- Squally sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 141200UTC, low 56 north 39 west 959 expected 62 north 20 west 961 by 151200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the south of 60 north in the western half of West Northern Section until 151300UTC, to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of West Northern Section until 151700UTC and to the south of 60 north in the western half of East Northern Section throughout. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of East Northern Section after 150000UTC, to the north of 54 north in West Central Section until 150800UTC and to the north of 54 north in the western half of East Central Section until 151500UTC. Also, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in all parts of Denmark Strait to the south of 70 north except the far southeast, but gradually becoming confined to areas east of 23 west and north of 63 north by 151800UTC. These northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 64 north in West Northern Section until 151300UTC.
In area to the north of 50 north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later in north, backing southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in east, otherwise high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east and also later in southwest, otherwise squally showers, wintry at times, and perhaps thundery in north.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate at first in east.
In area to the south of 50 north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, then backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in south, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, but becoming fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in south.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 141200UTC, low 56 north 39 west 959 expected 62 north 20 west 961 by 151200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the south of 60 north in the western half of West Northern Section until 151300UTC, to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of West Northern Section until 151700UTC and to the south of 60 north in the western half of East Northern Section throughout. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of East Northern Section after 150000UTC, to the north of 54 north in West Central Section until 150800UTC and to the north of 54 north in the western half of East Central Section until 151500UTC. Also, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in all parts of Denmark Strait to the south of 70 north except the far southeast, but gradually becoming confined to areas east of 23 west and north of 63 north by 151800UTC. These northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 64 north in West Northern Section until 151300UTC.
In area to the south of 50 north
- Wind
- Westerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In area to the north of 50 north
- Wind
- Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Squally sleet or snow showers, perhaps thundery, then rain or snow later.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, occasionally moderate later.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 141200UTC, low 56 north 39 west 959 expected 62 north 20 west 961 by 151200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the south of 60 north in the western half of West Northern Section until 151300UTC, to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of West Northern Section until 151700UTC and to the south of 60 north in the western half of East Northern Section throughout. Westerly or southwesterly winds will also reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 60 north in the eastern half of East Northern Section after 150000UTC, to the north of 54 north in West Central Section until 150800UTC and to the north of 54 north in the western half of East Central Section until 151500UTC. Also, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in all parts of Denmark Strait to the south of 70 north except the far southeast, but gradually becoming confined to areas east of 23 west and north of 63 north by 151800UTC. These northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the north of 64 north in West Northern Section until 151300UTC.
- Wind
- Northeasterly mainly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, but 7 to severe gale 9 throughout in far southeast, and also decreasing 7 to severe gale 9 later to the west of 23 west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high in far south.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor. Light or moderate icing except in southeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing near the ice, with temperatures around ms06.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high in far south.
- Weather
- Snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing except in far south, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times near the ice, with temperatures around ms06 or ms07.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, but mainly northeasterly in north, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in far southeast and very poor elsewhere.
Norwegian Basin
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in east, then veering southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in north, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in west but backing southeasterly 5 or 6 later in east.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough later except in east.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times and perhaps thundery, then rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming moderate or poor later in west.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in West Northern Section and West Central Section. Storm force winds expected in Bailey, East Northern Section, East Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Shannon. Risk of gales later in west Sole.
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.