Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 280000UTC, low 60 north 13 west 961 expected 65 north 05 east 968 by 290000UTC. New low expected 45 north 20 west 1015 by same time. Low 48 north 36 west 1009 moving very rapidly east-northeastwards and losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
West or southwest 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
High at first in west, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Southwest 6 to gale 8 veering west 4 to 6, then veering northwest later.
Sea state
High becoming very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Rockall

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 280000UTC, low 60 north 13 west 961 expected 65 north 05 east 968 by 290000UTC. Southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 281600UTC and 282200UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 61 north and 63 north and between 04 east and 06 east. Also, northerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the north of 74 north on the western side of sea area north Iceland, mainly over the ice, between 282100UTC and 290300UTC.

Wind
Southwest gale 8 to storm 10 veering northwest 5 to 7, then north 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
High or very high, becoming very rough later.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally moderate later.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 becoming north 4 to 6, then variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
High or very high, becoming very rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Poor, becoming moderate later.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
High or very high becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Squally showers, becoming wintry.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 in west, and later also in east.
Sea state
Very high at first in far south, otherwise very rough or high, becoming rough later in west.
Weather
Rain or snow, then snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good later.

East Northern Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Westerly 7 or gale 8 at first in far south, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough later except in far southeast.
Weather
Rain or showers, squally at times, and wintry in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In northwest

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In southwest

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, backing westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 5 at first in far east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Northwesterly 5 or 6 at first in east, otherwise westerly 3 to 5, but backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later in southwest.
Sea state
Very rough at first in east, otherwise rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, then rain later in southwest.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor, but becoming moderate or poor later in far southwest.

East Central Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Westerly veering northwesterly mainly 5 to 7, but gale 8 at first in northeast, then decreasing 3 or 4 later in west.
Sea state
High at first in east, otherwise very rough, but becoming rough later in west.
Weather
Squally thundery showers, becoming fair later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, becoming good later in west.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic mainly southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 3 or less later in west.
Sea state
Very rough, becoming rough later in west.
Weather
Rain, perhaps thundery, then showers, becoming fair later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

West Central Section

In area to the south of 48 north

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at times, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In area to the north of 48 north

Wind
Northwesterly 5 or 6 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 except in far northeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers then fair, then rain except in far northeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor except in far northeast.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6 at first in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, but becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at first to the south of 69 north in far east, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 280000UTC, low 60 north 13 west 961 expected 65 north 05 east 968 by 290000UTC. Southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 281600UTC and 282200UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 61 north and 63 north and between 04 east and 06 east. Also, northerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the north of 74 north on the western side of sea area north Iceland, mainly over the ice, between 282100UTC and 290300UTC.

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind
Northerly 5 or 6 backing northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in far northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or perhaps very severe icing near the ice, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

In southwest

Wind
Northerly 6 or 7 backing northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing gradually becoming confined to the northeast, with temperatures ms04 to ms07.

In southeast

Wind
Northerly 7 or gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far south, backing northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough in north and west.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times, perhaps thundery in far southeast.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in north and west. Light icing at times in north and west, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

Norwegian Basin

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 280000UTC, low 60 north 13 west 961 expected 65 north 05 east 968 by 290000UTC. Southerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 281600UTC and 282200UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 61 north and 63 north and between 04 east and 06 east. Also, northerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the north of 74 north on the western side of sea area north Iceland, mainly over the ice, between 282100UTC and 290300UTC.

In area to the west of 03 east

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or squally thundery showers, becoming wintry.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

In area to the east of 03 east

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time in south between 04 east and 06 east, then becoming cyclonic later and decreasing 6 at times.
Sea state
Rough at first in far northeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or squally thundery showers, becoming wintry.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force winds expected in West Northern Section. Storm force winds expected in West Central Section. Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Gales expected in Sole, East Central Section and Norwegian Basin.

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.

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