Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 011200UTC, low 50 north 48 west 969 expected 54 north 40 west 960 by 021200UTC. Low 59 north 20 west 966 expected 60 north 08 west 980 by same time. New low expected 57 north 09 west 979 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough.
- Weather
- Squally thundery showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- In south, southwesterly, becoming cyclonic for a time, 6 to gale 8. in north, southerly backing easterly, 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- In south, rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high. in north, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In south, rain or squally showers. in north, showers.
- Visibility
- In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. in north, good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 in south and east.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8 throughout in far northwest, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 except in far south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high in far northwest, otherwise rough, occasionally very rough in south and west, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in far northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7 at first in far northeast, otherwise westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in southwest and then later elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In area north of 62 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north, decreasing 5 at times in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, but sleet or snow at times in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in northwest.
In far southwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far east, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far north, backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 011200UTC, low 50 north 48 west 969 expected 54 north 40 west 960 by 021200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle from 021400UTC. At 011200UTC, low 59 north 20 west 966 expected 60 north 08 west 980 by 021200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 south of 70 north and east of 27 west in Denmark Strait until 021500UTC and violent storm force 11 between 68 north and 70 north in Denmark Strait until 020600UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in area enclosed between 68 and 70 north and west of 19 west in north Iceland until 020400UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in far northeast, otherwise cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far west, then becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later in north, occasionally storm 10 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 011200UTC, low 50 north 48 west 969 expected 54 north 40 west 960 by 021200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle from 021400UTC. At 011200UTC, low 59 north 20 west 966 expected 60 north 08 west 980 by 021200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 south of 70 north and east of 27 west in Denmark Strait until 021500UTC and violent storm force 11 between 68 north and 70 north in Denmark Strait until 020600UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in area enclosed between 68 and 70 north and west of 19 west in north Iceland until 020400UTC.
In area north of 70 north
- Wind
- Northerly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional snow in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in south. Moderate or severe icing expected south of 72 north with temperatures of around ms07.
In area south of 70 north and east of 27 west
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first, decreasing 7 at times later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow, but rain at times near Iceland.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, occasionally moderate near Iceland. Moderate or severe icing expected north of 67 north with temperatures of ms04 to ms07.
In area west of 27 west
- Wind
- Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 at times near greenland coast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough near greenland coast.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good near greenland. Occasional light icing expected in far northeast with temperatures of around ms03.
North Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 011200UTC, low 50 north 48 west 969 expected 54 north 40 west 960 by 021200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle from 021400UTC. At 011200UTC, low 59 north 20 west 966 expected 60 north 08 west 980 by 021200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 south of 70 north and east of 27 west in Denmark Strait until 021500UTC and violent storm force 11 between 68 north and 70 north in Denmark Strait until 020600UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in area enclosed between 68 and 70 north and west of 19 west in north Iceland until 020400UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in north and very rough in south.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet or snow, but rain in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Light or moderate icing in northwest with temperatures of ms03 to ms05, occasionally severe in far west with temperatures of around ms07.
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in south and 7 in north and east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times with fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6 in southeast otherwise 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far west.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally rough in east and high in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain with fog patches in southeast, but elsewhere, sleet and snow.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor. Light or moderate icing in far northwest with temperatures of around ms03.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south and east, decreasing 4 at times in far west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in far east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms expected in West Central Section with severe gales in West Northern Section, East Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Rockall, East Northern 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.
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.