High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 090000UTC, low 64 north 04 west 1003 expected 68 north 07 east 1001 by 100000UTC. New low expected 64 north 15 west 1020 by same time. Low 40 north 16 west 998 slow-moving filling 1002 by that time. at 090000UTC, high 72 north 20 west 1028 expected 69 north 23 west 1025 by 100000UTC. High 55 north 30 west 1036 expected 54 north 27 west 1039 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, but 4 or 5 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but moderate at first in east.
- Weather
- Thundery rain then fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northeast 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough in south.
- Weather
- Showers in south.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- North 4 or 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, increasing 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north, but variable 2 to 4 for a time in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional rain except in far southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, except in far southwest.
West Northern Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in far southeast, otherwise cyclonic in far northwest and southerly or southwesterly elsewhere, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far southwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in north and far west, but sleet, snow and freezing rain with fog patches in far northwest near greenland.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north and far west and very poor in far northwest near greenland. Occasional light icing developing near greenland.
East Central Section
In far northwest
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in far southeast.
West Central Section
In east
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in north, otherwise northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In west
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in far north.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, decreasing 2 at times in east, but increasing 6 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally smooth in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet and snow in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.
North Iceland
In east
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, decreasing 4 in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light or moderate icing developing for a time in north with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
In west
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in south.
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light or moderate icing later in east with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, East Central Section and West Northern Section.
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.