High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 290000UTC, low 59 north 36 west 948 expected 62 north 42 west 968 by 300000UTC. New lows expected 55 north 13 west 1009 and 47 north 20 west 1010 by same time. Low 68 north 01 east 985 losing its identity by that time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- In west, southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later. in east, southerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- In west, rough, occasionally very rough at first. in east, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In west, rain. in east, showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- South or southeast, 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far northwest, decreasing 4 to 6 later in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in east.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers in east, perhaps thundery, but squally wintry showers in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 290000UTC, low 59 north 36 west 948 expected 62 north 42 west 968 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 200 miles of the low centre in the southern semicircle and eastern semicircle until 291000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the west of the Denmark Strait, south of 68 north near the Greenland coast until 291300UTC.
In northwest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, decreasing 7 or gale 8, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, snow at times in far northwest, then occasional squally sleet and snow showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate to poor, occasionally good later.
In southeast of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly southerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southerly or southeasterly, 6 to gale 8, becoming northwesterly 4 or 5, then variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, but becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly westerly or southwesterly 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first in northwest.
- Weather
- Squally sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 290000UTC, low 59 north 36 west 948 expected 62 north 42 west 968 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 200 miles of the low centre in the southern semicircle and eastern semicircle until 291000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the west of the Denmark Strait, south of 68 north near the Greenland coast until 291300UTC.
In area north of 68 north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in far north and gale 8 in south, becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rain and sleet later, snow at times later near greenland coast, fog patches later.
- Weather
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate to very poor later.
- Visibility
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly easterly or northeasterly at first, 7 to severe gale 9, but storm 10 or violent storm 11 at first in west near greenland coast, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rain and sleet, occasionally snow in far southwest, then sleet and snow showers later.
- Weather
- Moderate to poor, occasionally very poor at first, becoming moderate or good, occasionally poor.
- Visibility
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fog patches, rain and sleet later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In south of area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, becoming variable 3 or 4 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
In west
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In east
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far east, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales are expected in West Northern Section, West Central Section and north Iceland, with a risk of gales in Rockall.
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.