Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 181200UTC, high 53 north 29 west 1025 dissipating by 191200UTC. New low moving slowly northeast, expected 65 north 38 west 971 by same time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6, veering easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first and moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- In south, northeasterly 4 to 6, veering easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later. in north, northwesterly 2 to 4, backing southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first and moderate later.
- Weather
- In south, mainly fair. in north, fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, backing southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low moving slowly northeast, expected 65 north 38 west 971 by 191200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle in West Northern Section from 190800UTC and violent storm force 11 in the far west of West Northern Section within this semicircle from 191100UTC. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in area enclosed north of 63 north and west of 37 west in both West Northern Section and Denmark Strait both from 191200UTC.
In far southeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 at times in south, perhaps storm 10 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain at times, squally wintry showers later in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low moving slowly northeast, expected 65 north 38 west 971 by 191200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle in West Northern Section from 190800UTC and violent storm force 11 in the far west of West Northern Section within this semicircle from 191100UTC. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in area enclosed north of 63 north and west of 37 west in both West Northern Section and Denmark Strait both from 191200UTC.
In far northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, veering northwesterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough, becoming very rough or high except near greenland.
- Weather
- Showers turning wintry, then mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing, then severe or very severe icing developing later.
In area south of 59 north
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly 6 to gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain at times, then squally snow showers in west and also later in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in west and also later in east. Light icing later in far northwest.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly or southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10 later, occasionally violent storm 11 later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming high or very high later.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers, but squally snow showers in west and also later in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in west and also later in east. Light icing later in west, occasionally moderate later in far west.
East Central Section
In far northwest
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in southeast, veering southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in northwest and gale 8 at first in south, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers at first in southeast, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.
West Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, with fog patches for a time in south and east, then snow showers in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south and east, and poor in north and west.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northeasterly in southeast, otherwise southeasterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain in north and west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in north and west.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle with fog patches, becoming mainly fair later except in far east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low moving slowly northeast, expected 65 north 38 west 971 by 191200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle in West Northern Section from 190800UTC and violent storm force 11 in the far west of West Northern Section within this semicircle from 191100UTC. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in area enclosed north of 63 north and west of 37 west in both West Northern Section and Denmark Strait both from 191200UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south and 5 in north, veering northwesterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later west of 37 west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet and snow, then squally snow showers later, but mainly fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good later. Occasional light icing near the ice edge with temperatures around ms04, becoming severe or very severe later in far southwest with temperatures ms06 to ms08.
North Iceland
In east
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in far southwest, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southerly or southwesterly, then southeasterly later in north, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far south.
- Weather
- Fair at first in south and snow showers at first in north, then occasional rain, sleet and snow in southwest and also later elsewhere, then squally showers later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing at first in north with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
In west
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly later except in far north, perhaps severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain, sleet and snow, squally snow showers later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing until later in north with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Westerly 6 to gale 8 at first in northeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far northeast.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first in northeast, rain later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in northeast and later in northwest.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Hurricane force winds expected in West Northern Section with violent storms in Denmark Strait. Storms expected in East Northern Section with severe gales in Southeast Iceland and north Iceland and a risk of severe gales in Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes and West Central Section.
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.