Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 181200UTC, low 45 north 49 west 969 expected 50 north 43 west 968 by 191200UTC. Low 55 north 16 west 982 expected 58 north 12 west 995 by same time. Low 68 north 02 west 982 expected 67 north 07 west 992 by that time. at 181200UTC, low 49 north 09 west 988 expected 49 north 04 east 996 by 191200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Shannon
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 181200UTC, low 45 north 49 west 969 expected 50 north 43 west 968 by 191200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southeast quadrant until 191900UTC. Low 55 north 16 west 982 expected 58 north 12 west 995 by same time. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times until 190000UTC in the far northeast of East Central Section and the southwestern half of Shannon.
- Wind
- In southwest, northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10 backing westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7. in northeast, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing westerly 5 later.
- Sea state
- In southwest, high or very high, becoming very rough later. in northeast, very rough or high.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- In southwest, poor becoming moderate. in northeast, moderate or poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- In southwest, cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing westerly 5 later. in northeast, southeasterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In southwest, very rough or high. in northeast, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In southwest, showers. in northeast, rain.
- Visibility
- In southwest, moderate or poor. in northeast, good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough until later in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Northern Section
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in west, decreasing 5 at times in north, east and south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in west, becoming moderate at times in north, east and south.
- Weather
- Mainly fair in north, rain or snow in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south. Light icing for a time in far north near the coast of western iceland.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southeast, then decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- High at first in far southeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In area to the north of 58 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly mainly 6 to gale 8, but 4 to 6 in far north and occasionally severe gale 9 in east and south.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or very rough, but occasionally high in east and south and moderate in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times in south and southeast, sleet or snow showers elsewhere.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times in south and southeast but occasionally very poor elsewhere. Light or moderate icing later in far northwest.
In area to the south of 58 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in far south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in far west.
- Weather
- Rain, snow or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 181200UTC, low 45 north 49 west 969 expected 50 north 43 west 968 by 191200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southeast quadrant until 191900UTC. Low 55 north 16 west 982 expected 58 north 12 west 995 by same time. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times until 190000UTC in the far northeast of East Central Section and the southwestern half of Shannon.
In northeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far northeast, then backing southerly or southwesterly later and decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, but becoming fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In southwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 backing southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 181200UTC, low 45 north 49 west 969 expected 50 north 43 west 968 by 191200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southeast quadrant until 191900UTC. Low 55 north 16 west 982 expected 58 north 12 west 995 by same time. Northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times until 190000UTC in the far northeast of East Central Section and the southwestern half of Shannon.
In northeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time, then becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain or sleet, then squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming very poor for a time in far north but occasionally good elsewhere.
In southwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later in north but becoming southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10 later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, but becoming very poor for a time at first in far north.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far east.
- Weather
- Snow showers, but mainly fair near greenland.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor except near greenland. Light or moderate icing at first in east, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, and later in far west, with temperatures ms04 to ms07, and also locally severe icing at first in far east between 68 north and 69 north, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 71 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at first near the ice, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
In area to the south of 71 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming mainly northerly in west, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing until later in west, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but locally severe icing at first in northwest near the ice, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in south and east, occasionally severe gale 9 later in south and east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers at first in north and east, otherwise rain or sleet at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north and east and poor in south and west.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in West Central Section. Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section and Norwegian Basin, but with a risk of storm force winds for a time in eastern Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Rockall, Bailey and East Central Section, possibly severe in Bailey.
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.