Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 050000UTC, low 47 north 42 west 982 expected 53 north 29 west 958 by 060000UTC. Lows 61 north 39 west 986 and 60 north 16 west 991 both losing their identities
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- In west, westerly 5 backing southerly 6, increasing gale 8 later. in east, westerly 5 to 7, backing southwesterly 3 to 5, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- In west, rough or very rough. in east, very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing southeast later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing southeast later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southeast.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 050000UTC, low 47 north 42 west 982 expected 53 north 29 west 958 by 060000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 throughout the period within 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant and within 350 miles of the centre in all other quadrants. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 throughout the period within 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle but between 100 and 250 miles of the centre in the southeastern quadrant, and then also between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the northeastern quadrant from 060300UTC. Finally winds are also expected to reach hurricane force 12 between 50 and 200 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant until 052000UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming southeasterly 4 to 6, backing easterly gale 8 to storm 10 later, occasionally violent storm 11 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming moderate or poor later.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, backing easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in south, then becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later, increasing violent storm 11 at times later mainly in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 050000UTC, low 47 north 42 west 982 expected 53 north 29 west 958 by 060000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 throughout the period within 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant and within 350 miles of the centre in all other quadrants. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 throughout the period within 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle but between 100 and 250 miles of the centre in the southeastern quadrant, and then also between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the northeastern quadrant from 060300UTC. Finally winds are also expected to reach hurricane force 12 between 50 and 200 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant until 052000UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 in far northwest, but elsewhere cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, then high later in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers, then occasional rain, sleet and snow later in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing in far northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far west, becoming northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10 in southeast, then becoming cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9 later in west but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers, then rain, sleet and snow in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 050000UTC, low 47 north 42 west 982 expected 53 north 29 west 958 by 060000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 throughout the period within 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant and within 350 miles of the centre in all other quadrants. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 throughout the period within 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle but between 100 and 250 miles of the centre in the southeastern quadrant, and then also between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the northeastern quadrant from 060300UTC. Finally winds are also expected to reach hurricane force 12 between 50 and 200 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant until 052000UTC.
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in east and far north, otherwise southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 in west and north, then decreasing 5 to 7 later in south, but occasionally gale 8 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high in west and later in east.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first in north otherwise rain at times, wintry showers later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good becoming moderate or poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 050000UTC, low 47 north 42 west 982 expected 53 north 29 west 958 by 060000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 throughout the period within 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant and within 350 miles of the centre in all other quadrants. Winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 throughout the period within 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle but between 100 and 250 miles of the centre in the southeastern quadrant, and then also between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the northeastern quadrant from 060300UTC. Finally winds are also expected to reach hurricane force 12 between 50 and 200 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant until 052000UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 4 to 6 at first in far north, otherwise severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, occasionally hurricane force 12 at first, becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later, but occasionally storm 10 later in northeast and decreasing 6 at times later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in north, otherwise high or very high, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first in north, otherwise rain, sleet and snow, then squally sleet and snow showers in south and west and later in northeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6 in east and 7 to severe gale 9 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional snow or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing near the ice edge, mainly in west, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 in north and west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers, good, occasionally moderate.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first in far southeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south and east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow at first in far southeast, otherwise snow showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storms expected in east and West Northern Sections, West Central Section and Denmark Strait with storms in Southeast Iceland and East Central Section. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Bailey and north Iceland with gales in all other areas.
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.