Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 230000UTC, low 48 north 09 west 961 expected 51 north 07 west 967 by 240000UTC. Low 57 north 31 west 980 expected 59 north 44 west 981 by same time. New low 53 north 37 west 982 expected by that time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming west or northwest later, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly north or northeast, backing northwest later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally 3 in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in northeast, and high later in southwest and west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- In southwest, cyclonic, becoming mainly east 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first. in northeast, easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- In southwest, moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southwest. in northeast, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In southwest, showers. in northeast, rain.
- Visibility
- In southwest, moderate or good. in northeast, good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Mainly very rough, occasionally high until later, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Mainly very rough, occasionally high until later, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Mainly very rough, occasionally high until later, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In the northeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly easterly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later near southern Iceland coast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in far northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In southwestern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south and decreasing 4 at times at first and later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly winds are expected storm force 10, occasionally violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 and 69 north in northwest corner of West Northern Section and in the Denmark Strait, but becoming confined to south of 67 north from 231500UTC. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast corner of East Central Section, in an area enclosed south of 51 north and east of 22 west from 231000UTC until 232300UTC. New low 53 north 37 west 982 expected by 240000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Central Section from 232300UTC, in the southern quadrant and later in the southwest quadrant, between 50 and 250 miles from the centre of the low.
In northwest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly easterly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, but storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 close to greenland.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but sleet or snow in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in far northwest.
In northeast of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming mainly easterly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 until later in northwest, but 4 to 6 elsewhere, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, squally at times, rain later in northeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly winds are expected storm force 10, occasionally violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 and 69 north in northwest corner of West Northern Section and in the Denmark Strait, but becoming confined to south of 67 north from 231500UTC. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast corner of East Central Section, in an area enclosed south of 51 north and east of 22 west from 231000UTC until 232300UTC. New low 53 north 37 west 982 expected by 240000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Central Section from 232300UTC, in the southern quadrant and later in the southwest quadrant, between 50 and 250 miles from the centre of the low.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm force 10 for a time until later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in northeast, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly winds are expected storm force 10, occasionally violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 and 69 north in northwest corner of West Northern Section and in the Denmark Strait, but becoming confined to south of 67 north from 231500UTC. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast corner of East Central Section, in an area enclosed south of 51 north and east of 22 west from 231000UTC until 232300UTC. New low 53 north 37 west 982 expected by 240000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Central Section from 232300UTC, in the southern quadrant and later in the southwest quadrant, between 50 and 250 miles from the centre of the low.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 3 to 5 at times in north and later in northwest, otherwise 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in central and eastern areas.
- Sea state
- Very rough in northeast, elsewhere high or very high, becoming very rough or high, occasionally rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly winds are expected storm force 10, occasionally violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 and 69 north in northwest corner of West Northern Section and in the Denmark Strait, but becoming confined to south of 67 north from 231500UTC. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast corner of East Central Section, in an area enclosed south of 51 north and east of 22 west from 231000UTC until 232300UTC. New low 53 north 37 west 982 expected by 240000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 in West Central Section from 232300UTC, in the southern quadrant and later in the southwest quadrant, between 50 and 250 miles from the centre of the low.
- Wind
- Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, but storm 10 or violent storm 11 at times near greenland ice edge, decreasing 5 or 6 at times in east and southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in southwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in southeast and sleet and snow elsewhere.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast and very poor elsewhere.
North Iceland
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, fog patches in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Mainly easterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in southeast and southwest, decreasing 3 at times in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far south.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, but easterly 7 at first in far northeast, decreasing 3 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally slight later in east.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms expected in East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait, with gales or severe gales expected in all other areas except north Iceland 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.
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.