High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 071200UTC, low 55 north 56 west 978 expected 64 north 34 west 987 by 081200UTC. High 47 north 23 west 1033 expected 44 north 21 north 1035 by same time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later, then backing south or southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 5 to 7, then veering southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing south or southeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later, then veering southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, then westerly 5 or 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, becoming cyclonic, mainly southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, then showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half or area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 veering westerly or southwesterly later, occasionally gale 8 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In northwest of area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, mainly northerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, occasional sleet or snow near greenland.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor near greenland.
In northeast of area
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north and west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less at first in southeast, otherwise southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain later in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in far northwest.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
- Visibility
West Central Section
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering westerly 5 to 7, becoming variable 3 or less later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- South of 70 north, northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in far south.
- Weather
- Rain with occlusion sleet or snow near to greenland coast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor near to greenland coast.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then occasional sleet or snow later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later, occasionally very poor later. A risk of slight icing later with temperatures around ms 02.
North Iceland
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional sleet or snow later near greenland coast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor later near greenland coast.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough later, occasionally very rough later near Iceland.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later in south.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 veering southeasterly 4 to 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in far west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in east at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Storms are expected in Denmark straight. Severe gales are expected in East Northern Section and West Northern Section. Gales are expected in Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section and north Iceland. There is a risk of gales in Shannon and Norwegian Basin. Strong winds expected in all other areas.
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.