Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 251200UTC, high 65 north 07 east 1026 expected 70 north 17 east 1030 by 261200UTC. Lows 67 north 21 west 1009, 55 north 27 west 1009, 48 north 18 west 1007 and 49 north 07 west 1008 all losing their identities

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind
Southeast backing northeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
East or southeast, backing northeast later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic at first in southeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In northwest

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly, 6 or 7 in northwest and 3 to 5 elsewhere, but occasionally gale 8 at first in far northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, squally in northwest.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

West Northern Section

In north

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 until later in southeast and far east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 later in southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough at first in east, otherwise moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

In southeast

Wind
Northerly 4 or 5, veering northeasterly 3 or 4, then easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

In southwest

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later in south and west.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

East Central Section

In northeast

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery for a time in south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic in far east, otherwise northerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times in east, but occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, becoming mainly fair later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In northwest

Wind
Cyclonic becoming mainly northerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

West Central Section

In east

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers at first in east, occasional rain later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later in west.

In west

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north, perhaps gale 8 later in north.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Fair at first in north and east, otherwise rain or drizzle at times, fog patches developing.
Visibility
Good at first in north and east, otherwise moderate to very poor, occasionally good until later.

Denmark Strait

In east

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far southeast and variable 2 to 4 in far northeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later in far south and becoming variable 2 to 4 later elsewhere.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Fair in far north, otherwise rain at times, fog patches in far southeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in far north, but very poor in far southeast.

In west

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

North Iceland

In southeastern half of area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north and west.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle with fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor.

In northwestern half of area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 until later in far north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Slight at first in far north, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair until later in northwest and far north, otherwise occasional rain or drizzle with fog patches.
Visibility
Mainly good until later in northwest and far north, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional drizzle in north.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in East Central Section.

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.

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