Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 171200UTC, low 59 north 48 west 991 expected 61 north 27 west 978 by 181200UTC. Low 61 north 09 west 978 expected 64 north 01 east 984 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Northwest backing west 4 to 6, backing southwest 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, then occasional rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6 backing southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 for a time later in north.
Sea state
High at first in far north, otherwise very rough, but becoming rough later in far south.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
West 6 to gale 8 backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
High becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
West or northwest becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time, then perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
High at first except in far northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
In south, westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing southerly 4 to 6 later. in north, cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state
In south, very rough or high becoming rough or very rough. in north, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
In south, rain or squally showers. in north, rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. in north, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Very rough at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 then westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later in northeast.
Sea state
High at first in far east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Mainly fair at first in north and east, otherwise rain then squally showers, thundery at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, becoming squally, fog patches at first in southeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor at first in southeast.

East Central Section

Wind
Northwesterly 4 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and 4 in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in north, moderate or rough in south.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle in south, but in north, rain, thundery at times, then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.

West Central Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later in southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at first in east, perhaps thundery, otherwise showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor at first in east, otherwise moderate or good.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Southwesterly 5 or 6 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain for a time, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.

Denmark Strait

In far southeast

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In the rest of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 to the south of 70 north in the east, decreasing 4 at times elsewhere.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough to the south of 70 north in the east.
Weather
Rain at times, with sleet in far northeast, but mainly fair in far west, fog patches in east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 73 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight becoming moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or sleet in west, fog patches in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

In area between 67 north and 73 north

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In area to the south of 67 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times, fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

In western half of the area

Wind
Southeasterly becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 except in far northeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough for a time in southwest.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in Bailey. Gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes, East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait and Norwegian Basin, but with a risk of severe gales in East Northern Section and West Northern 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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