Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 071200UTC, low 60 north 13 west 996 expected 64 north 06 west 999 by 081200UTC. High 62 north 36 west 1028 expected 55 north 32 west 1032 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeast 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeast 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
In south, northwesterly veering northeasterly, 4 to 6. in north, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering northerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
In south, rough, occasionally very rough at first. in north, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
In south, good. in north, moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
Rain then squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times, occasionally 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic mainly northerly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Rain or squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in far east, decreasing 3 at times in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later in east.
Weather
Showers, wintry at times, squally at first in far east, becoming mainly fair later in southwest.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south.
Weather
Wintry showers, occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In southeast

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later in north and west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, fair later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

In southwest

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5, veering southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair until later in northeast, otherwise occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in southwest and later in northeast.

In northwest

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic in northwest, occasionally 6 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in far south.
Weather
Wintry showers, then occasional rain, freezing rain and snow in northwest with fog patches developing in northwest, and occasional rain later elsewhere.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming moderate to very poor in northwest, and occasionally poor later elsewhere.

East Central Section

In far southeast

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

In rest of area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in south and southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in south.
Weather
Occasional rain in southeast, otherwise showers, becoming squally in south, becoming mainly fair later in northwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast.

West Central Section

In east

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in far northwest.
Sea state
Rough occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers, mainly fair later.
Visibility
Good.

In southwest

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

In northwest

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate occasionally rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, mainly northwest, becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later in northwest.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in east.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Sleet and snow showers in south, rain, freezing rain and snow later in far south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south, but very poor later in far south.

North Iceland

In far southeast

Wind
Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Occasional rain, sleet and snow.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In rest of area

Wind
Variable 2 or 3 in far northwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times in southeast.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

In east

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 in far northeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in west and later in east, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Mainly fair, then occasional rain, mainly in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

In west

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, squally at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section and north Iceland with gales in Sole, Shannon and Norwegian Basin.

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.