High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 261200UTC, low 56 north 26 west 987 expected 63 north 15 west 986 by 271200UTC. Low 45 north 16 west 1015 expected 54 north 05 west 1000 by same time. Low 66 north 17 west 984 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic, then west later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- South or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in northwest and 7 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in east, moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far northwest and at first in far southeast, decreasing 4 at times elsewhere in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in northeast to the south of Iceland, but elsewhere rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at times, perhaps thundery in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, decreasing 3 at times later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough until later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in northwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8 at first in north otherwise 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in far south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming rough in south and later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later in north, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less at first in far southwest, otherwise northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northeast, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in north.
- Weather
- Showers at first in northeast, otherwise fair, then rain or thundery showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Denmark Strait
In area east of 25 west
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 at times in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or snow at times, becoming mainly fair later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming mainly good later in north.
In area west of 25 west
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, but northeasterly 5 to 7 in southeast, occasionally gale 8 in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high in southeast, moderate or rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, but occasional rain in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in southeast.
North Iceland
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 6 to gale 8 in far west otherwise 4 to 6, and occasionally 7 at first in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in south and west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and 4 in east.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in east and very rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches in southeast, sleet and snow at times in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in far north with temperatures around ms03.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in far east, decreasing 4 or 5 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers at first in far northeast, rain in west and also later in east except far east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in east and poor in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, East Central Section and West Central Section with gales in Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Risk of gales in Shannon and 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.