High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 051200UTC, high 48 north 37 west 1033 expected 48 north 28 west with little change by 061200UTC. New low expected 66 north 28 west 1004 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 3 to 5 later, but 4 to 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In area north of 61 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, but poor later.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Westerly, 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
West Northern Section
In area north of 61 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but poor later in far northwest.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Westerly, backing southerly or southeasterly later in west, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery later in east.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, but poor later in east.
West Central Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair, but rain and drizzle later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate occasionally poor later in west.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, veering easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, but occasional drizzle in west, then rain and drizzle later in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in west, becoming moderate occasionally poor later in far northwest.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later in northeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and showers, fog patches at first in west, but sleet and snow in north.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor, but moderate or good occasionally very poor in north and at first in west.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly later in west, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate in northwest, rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough elsewhere.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, drizzle or showers, but sleet or snow in north.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor, but moderate or good occasionally very poor in north. Light icing in far north throughout, with temperatures ms02 to ms03.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland, with a risk of gales in Sole.
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.