High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 100000UTC, low 72 north 21 west 1007 expected 68 north 10 west 997 by 110000UTC. Low 46 north 19 west 975 expected 46 north 20 west 984 by same time. New high expected 60 north 33 west 1023 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- East or southeast, backing northeast later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- East, backing northeast later, 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate in far northeast.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south.
Rockall
- Wind
- Easterly backing northeasterly, 5 or 6 in south but 3 to 5 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming north or northeast, then backing northwest later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- North backing west or northwest, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic then northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise westerly veering northwesterly 4 to 6, then veering northerly or northeasterly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers in north and east, perhaps wintry.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in north and east.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in north and 6 in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate, but occasionally rough in northeast and slight in northwest.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Mainly variable 2 to 4, but easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5 in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fog patches at first in far southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in far southwest.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, mainly in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then becoming northeasterly later except in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, veering easterly in northwest, and later also in southwest, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in east and 3 in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in east, moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, fog patches in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Southwesterly at first in southeast, otherwise mainly northerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, but becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers in far east, but elsewhere mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor in far east. Light or moderate icing at times in far east, to the north of 67 north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, perhaps severe icing at times to the north of 69 north, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in far southeast, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate until later in north, otherwise moderate or rough, but becoming very rough or high later in south.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in north, otherwise sleet or snow showers, but rain or sleet for a time in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in west and north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe icing at times in northwest, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming cyclonic mainly northwesterly 4 to 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon and East Central Section.
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.