High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 071200UTC, low 60 north 13 west 996 expected 64 north 06 west 999 by 081200UTC. High 62 north 36 west 1028 expected 55 north 32 west 1032 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeast 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- In south, northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6. in north, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering northerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In south, rough, occasionally very rough at first. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- In south, good. in north, moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
- Weather
- Rain then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, occasionally 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly northerly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in far east, decreasing 3 at times in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later in east.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times, squally at first in far east, becoming mainly fair later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later in north and west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In southwest
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair until later in northeast, otherwise occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in southwest and later in northeast.
In northwest
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic in northwest, occasionally 6 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in far south.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then occasional rain, freezing rain and snow in northwest with fog patches developing in northwest, and occasional rain later elsewhere.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate to very poor in northwest, and occasionally poor later elsewhere.
East Central Section
In far southeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in south and southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in southeast, otherwise showers, becoming squally in south, becoming mainly fair later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast.
West Central Section
In east
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In northwest
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, mainly northwest, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later in northwest.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow showers in south, rain, freezing rain and snow later in far south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south, but very poor later in far south.
North Iceland
In far southeast
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 or 3 in far northwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
In east
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in far northeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west and later in east, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then occasional rain, mainly in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.
In west
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section and north Iceland with gales in Sole, Shannon and Norwegian Basin.
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.