Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 231200UTC, low 51 north 48 west 993 expected 52 north 25 west 980 by 241200UTC. Low 58 north 37 west 986 expected 60 north 47 west 980 by same time. Low 49 north 07 west 958 expected 51 north 07 west 975 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- East or southeast 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 231200UTC, low 51 north 48 west 993 expected 52 north 25 west 980 by 241200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant between 50 and 200 miles of the centre from 232200UTC onwards. Not associated with the low, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 close to the ice edge in the far northwest of West Northern Section and the far west of Denmark Strait throughout. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far southeast of East Central Section until 232300UTC.
In far northwest
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 near ice edge.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or snow.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, but easterly 7 to severe gale 9 in far north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet in north, wintry showers in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 231200UTC, low 51 north 48 west 993 expected 52 north 25 west 980 by 241200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant between 50 and 200 miles of the centre from 232200UTC onwards. Not associated with the low, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 close to the ice edge in the far northwest of West Northern Section and the far west of Denmark Strait throughout. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far southeast of East Central Section until 232300UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far southeast and later in far north.
- Sea state
- High, occasionally very high.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 231200UTC, low 51 north 48 west 993 expected 52 north 25 west 980 by 241200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant between 50 and 200 miles of the centre from 232200UTC onwards. Not associated with the low, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 close to the ice edge in the far northwest of West Northern Section and the far west of Denmark Strait throughout. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far southeast of East Central Section until 232300UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in south, becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far north, backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 231200UTC, low 51 north 48 west 993 expected 52 north 25 west 980 by 241200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southwest quadrant between 50 and 200 miles of the centre from 232200UTC onwards. Not associated with the low, northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 close to the ice edge in the far northwest of West Northern Section and the far west of Denmark Strait throughout. Northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in the far southeast of East Central Section until 232300UTC.
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far west.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet or snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in west. Occasional slight icing near ice edge, with temperatures ms02 to ms03.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional snow.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Easterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional snow later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms or severe storms expected in West Northern Section, both central sections and Denmark Strait. Gales or severe gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Rockall and East Northern 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.