Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 170000UTC, low 62 north 18 west 975 expected 62 north 03 west 981 by 180000UTC. New lows expected 66 north 19 west 985 and south Greenland 987 by same time. High south Greenland 1005 dissipating by that time. at 170000UTC, low 58 north 61 west 995 expected 63 north 35 west 984 by 180000UTC. High 44 north 26 west 1035 expected 41 north 24 west 1029 by same time. New high expected 75 north 10 west 1001 by that time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
West or northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Northwest backing southwest, 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough, occasionally high in north.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Rockall

Wind
West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then west 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate east of faeroe isles, becoming high for a time in southeast.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate later near Icelandic coast.
Weather
Rain, showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east, becoming cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in south.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough in northwest, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate later in north.
Weather
Fair at first in southwest, otherwise occasional rain or showers, thundery later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in southeast.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, mainly westerly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in east.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, fog patches for a time in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in south.

East Central Section

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, but gale 8 at first in northeast, backing southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later except in southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, but moderate in southwest and high at first in northeast.
Weather
Showers in south, rain later in north.
Visibility
Good, but moderate or poor later in north.

West Central Section

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in north, moderate or rough in south, occasionally slight at first in far south.
Weather
Fair at first in northeast, otherwise occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
Visibility
Good at first in northeast, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in far northeast and far southwest, otherwise cyclonic, becoming northerly or northeasterly near greenland, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in northeast.
Sea state
Slight at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
Weather
Fair at first in southwest, otherwise rain at times, but sleet in northeast and fog patches in southeast.
Visibility
Good at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in southeast.

North Iceland

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in north and very rough in far southeast.
Weather
Fair in northeast, otherwise rain or drizzle at times, fog banks developing in south.
Visibility
Good in northeast, otherwise moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in far northeast, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southwest.
Weather
Fair in far northeast, otherwise rain, then squally showers.
Visibility
Good in far northeast, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales are expected in Bailey, East Northern Section and West Northern Section, with gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Gales are also possible in Shannon.

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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