Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 071200UTC, low 61 north 12 west 973 expected 58 north 03 west 990 by 081200UTC. Low 47 north 20 west 1014 expected 47 north 03 west 1008 by same time. High 52 north 35 west 1023 expected 47 north 22 west 1028 by that time. New low expected 74 north 20 west 989 by 091200UTC

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
West or southwest, veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
West or southwest, veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough,.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Southwest veering northwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery until later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later, then variable 3 later in north.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate later in north.
Weather
Showers, squally until later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor until later.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later, then backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

East Northern Section

In eastern half of area

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, then backing westerly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

In western half of area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far north.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate later.

West Northern Section

In northern half of area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in west.

In southern half of area

Wind
Westerly, backing southerly or southeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain and drizzle, fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly, but cyclonic at first in southeast, 5 to 7, but variable 2 to 4 in southwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southeast and backing southerly 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough until later in far northeast.
Weather
Showers in north and east, but thundery rain at first in far southeast.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in north and east, but moderate occasionally poor at first in far southeast.

West Central Section

In northeastern half of area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair, then rain, drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

In southwestern half of area

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7 veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair at first in east, otherwise rain, drizzle and fog patches.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

In area north of 70 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

In rest of area

Wind
Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, but variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

North Iceland

In northwest of area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor later.

In northeast of area

Wind
Northwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first in north.

In rest of area

Wind
Northerly 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in far southeast and slight or moderate until later in west.
Weather
Occasional rain at first in southeast.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, but very rough for a time in far southwest.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales are expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland.

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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