Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 291200UTC, low 52 north 15 west 975 expected 57 north 18 west 953 by 301200UTC. Low 62 north 25 west 986 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
South or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough occasionally high in northwest.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Storm warning
Issued:

At 291200UTC, low 52 north 15 west 975 expected 57 north 18 west 953 by 301200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 292000UTC until 300200UTC, then in the southern semi-circle between 50 and 200 miles of the centre until 301800UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the east quadrant 50 to 200 miles of the centre from 300800UTC, and violent storm force 11 in the east quadrant between 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 300800UTC until 301400UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 66 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC, increasing to violent storm force 11 between 67 and 69 north in Denmark Strait from 301400UTC.

Wind
Southeast 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Storm warning
Issued:

At 291200UTC, low 52 north 15 west 975 expected 57 north 18 west 953 by 301200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 292000UTC until 300200UTC, then in the southern semi-circle between 50 and 200 miles of the centre until 301800UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the east quadrant 50 to 200 miles of the centre from 300800UTC, and violent storm force 11 in the east quadrant between 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 300800UTC until 301400UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 66 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC, increasing to violent storm force 11 between 67 and 69 north in Denmark Strait from 301400UTC.

Wind
Southeast 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 291200UTC, low 52 north 15 west 975 expected 57 north 18 west 953 by 301200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 292000UTC until 300200UTC, then in the southern semi-circle between 50 and 200 miles of the centre until 301800UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the east quadrant 50 to 200 miles of the centre from 300800UTC, and violent storm force 11 in the east quadrant between 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 300800UTC until 301400UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 66 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC, increasing to violent storm force 11 between 67 and 69 north in Denmark Strait from 301400UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8 increasing 8 to storm 10 later in southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in far east.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later near Iceland.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic 7 ot severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11, becoming westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in east.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northeast of area

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly, veering westerly later in southeast, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 in southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Showers, rain later, occasional sleet or snow later in far north.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later, but occasionally very poor later in far north.

In southwest of area

Wind
Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 in far southeast, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to gale 8 in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

East Central Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 291200UTC, low 52 north 15 west 975 expected 57 north 18 west 953 by 301200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 292000UTC until 300200UTC, then in the southern semi-circle between 50 and 200 miles of the centre until 301800UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the east quadrant 50 to 200 miles of the centre from 300800UTC, and violent storm force 11 in the east quadrant between 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 300800UTC until 301400UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 66 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC, increasing to violent storm force 11 between 67 and 69 north in Denmark Strait from 301400UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly westerly or southwesterly, severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming westerly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in far north.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, occasionally thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

In east

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

In west

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough at first in southeast, otherwise rough becoming moderate later in far southwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning
Issued:

At 291200UTC, low 52 north 15 west 975 expected 57 north 18 west 953 by 301200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 292000UTC until 300200UTC, then in the southern semi-circle between 50 and 200 miles of the centre until 301800UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the east quadrant 50 to 200 miles of the centre from 300800UTC, and violent storm force 11 in the east quadrant between 50 and 100 miles of the centre from 300800UTC until 301400UTC. In addition, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 66 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC, increasing to violent storm force 11 between 67 and 69 north in Denmark Strait from 301400UTC.

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 in far southwest and at first in far north, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 in northeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first near shore, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later, occasionally very high later.
Weather
In southeast, occasional rain, elsewhere, occasional sleet or snow, then occasional freezing rain later.
Visibility
Good at first in south and west, otherwise moderate to poor, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing later in far north with temperatures of ms02.

North Iceland

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain, sleet and snow, freezing rain later in north and fog patches later in south.
Visibility
Mainly good at first, becoming mainly moderate to poor, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing later in far northwest with temperatures of ms02.

In south

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough becoming very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or sleet, fog patches later in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but occasionally very poor later in south.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later except in far east.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough or very rough in west.
Weather
Occasional rain in west, fog patches later in far west.
Visibility
Good in east, moderate or good, occasionally poor in west, but occasionally very poor later in far west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in Denmark Strait. Storms expected in Bailey. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Northern Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in East Central Section, West Central Section, 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.

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