High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 071200UTC, low 66 north 34 west 1001 expected 72 north 04 west 989 by 081200UTC. Low 38 north 24 west 995 expected 44 north 24 west 978 by same time. Low 59 north 42 west 1003 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in east and 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in east, otherwise mainly moderate or rough, but becoming very rough later in far southwest.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.
Shannon
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 2 to 4 increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later except in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later in southwest.
Rockall
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 5 or 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate in south and west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 2 to 4. in northwest, southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- In southeast, slight. in northwest, mainly moderate, but slight at first in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in north, becoming variable 2 or 3 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain in west, showers in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, but rain for a time in far west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time in far west.
West Northern Section
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In far northwest
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good. Occasional light icing at first in very far northwest.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, but becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, backing easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair in far northeast, but elsewhere rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good in far northeast, but elsewhere moderate or good occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7 increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then becoming southeasterly 5 or 6 later in south and east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly for a time, 3 or 4 increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
In northeast
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in north.
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then becoming northerly or northwesterly later, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 or 6 at first in southeast, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, but becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but slight in far north.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at first between 68 north and 70 north and rain at first in southeast, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor at first between 68 north and 70 north, otherwise mainly good, but occasionally poor at first in southeast. Light or moderate icing for a time within 50 miles of greenland, between 67 north and 70 north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe icing for a time to the north of 70 north, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 69 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time later in south, then becoming northerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough in south and east, then becoming very rough for a time later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle until later in southeast, otherwise sleet or snow, then snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing developing, with temperatures ms04 to ms07, but severe or very severe icing developing for a time in west, with temperatures ms08 to ms11.
In area to the south of 69 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering northerly or northwesterly later except in far southeast, 4 to 6, but increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate near iceland.
- Weather
- Rain for a time except in far southeast, then snow showers later in far north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in far southeast and becoming very poor at times later in far north. Light or moderate icing for a time in far northwest, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north and east, decreasing 3 at times in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in north, slight or moderate in south.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in Sole. Gales expected in Shannon, East Central Section and West Central Section. Risk of gales in the far southwest of Rockall.
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.