Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 041200UTC, high 48 north 30 west 1030 expected 42 north 31 west 1031 by 051200UTC. New low expected 62 north 30 west 1021 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5 veering north or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5 veering north or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming north 4 to 6, backing northwest 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 or 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in east and slight in west.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
East Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northwesterly 3 to 5, then veering northeasterly later in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair at first except in far northeast, otherwise sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good at first except in far northeast, otherwise good occasionally very poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far west.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain, sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor.
In south
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain, sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Southerly 3 or 4 backing easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, then backing northeasterly 5 to 7 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 until later in east, becoming variable 2 at times in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate in east, slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
West Central Section
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, then backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, fog patches for a time in north.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time in south but becoming poor or very poor for a time in north.
Denmark Strait
In area that lies both north of 67 north and west of 24 west
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in south and later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate until later in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing to the north of 67 north in the east, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in west, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in northwest, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 for a time in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in East Northern Section. Gales expected in Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section and Denmark Strait.
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.