High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 251200UTC, low 42 north 07 west 1021 expected 45 north 10 west 1021 by 261200UTC. Low 71 north 02 west 1003 expected 69 north 11 east 1005 by same time. Low 64 north 19 west 1005 losing its identity by that time. at 251200UTC, high 55 north 09 east 1033 dissipating by 261200UTC. New low expected 42 north 33 west 1003 by same time. New high expected 56 north 13 west 1033 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally very poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 3 or 4 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- In north, westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later. in south, variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- In north, rough, becoming moderate later. in south, moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- In north, mainly fair . in south, rain and fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- In north, good. in south, good, occasionally very poor at first.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest veering west, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering westerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast, becoming variable 3 or less in south, then southeasterly 3 to 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers mainly in north, rain or drizzle later in southwest, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later in southwest.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, increasing 5 or 6 in southwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Showers, fog patches in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in northwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southeast, then becoming northeasterly 5 or 6 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain or drizzle later in southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later in southeast.
East Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Variable 3 or 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle with fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 or 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle with fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
West Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming northeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 4 to 6 later, but veering southeasterly 3 or 4 later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
- Weather
- Mainly fair occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first and later.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle, perhaps thundery for a time.
- Visibility
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, but northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 at first in far north, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, drizzle and snow, fog patches, becoming fog banks later near greenland coast.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, with occasional snow, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, but occasional snow in northwest, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in West Central 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.