High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 181200UTC, low 66 north 40 west 971 expected 65 north 36 west 976 by 191200UTC. Low 73 north 18 west 977 expected 77 north 05 west 966 by same time. Low 62 north 33 west 975 moving rather quickly northeast and losing its identity by that time. at 181200UTC, high 46 north 30 west 1032 expected 43 north 22 west 1025 by 191200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- In east, northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later. in west, variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- In east, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later. in west, moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- In east, showers, thundery in east. in west, occasional rain.
- Visibility
- In east, good, occasionally poor in east. in west, moderate or good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain in south and east, squally showers in northwest, perhaps wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 181200UTC, low 66 north 40 west 971 expected 65 north 36 west 976 by 191200UTC. Low 62 north 33 west 975 moving rather quickly northeast and losing its identity by same time. Southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in that part of West Northern Section that lies both between 59 and 62 north and west of 31 west until 190500UTC.
In far northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 near the greenland coast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In rest of north of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in south, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, decreasing 5 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In south of area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, severe gale 9 or storm 10 at first in far north, otherwise 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times in west and decreasing 5 or 6 for a time in southeast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain until later in southeast, otherwise squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate.
East Central Section
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering northwesterly later in west, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain at times, squally showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in far southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, veering northwesterly in southwest and also later elsewhere, decreasing 5 or 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far north.
- Weather
- Fair at first in southeast, otherwise rain at times, then squally showers in north and west, turning wintry at times, fair later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming good later in southwest.
Denmark Strait
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, squally until later and perhaps wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in far north and far southwest, becoming easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later near the greenland coast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing north of 68 north, mainly near the greenland coast, with temperatures ms03 to ms05.
North Iceland
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, occasionally 4 later in north and gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers, wintry later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.
- Wind
- On northwestern half of area, southwesterly 7 or gale 8 at first in far northeast, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in far north, and occasionally 7 elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing, mainly in north, with temperatures ms03 to ms05, occasionally severe later in far north with temperatures around ms07.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in Shannon, Rockall, East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section and Denmark Strait with gales in all other areas except Faeroes and Norwegian Basin.
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.