Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. at 160000UTC, low 62 north 13 west 973 moving steadily northeast losing its identity by 170000UTC. New high expected 43 north 49 west 1043 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state
Very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
South or southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
High or very high.
Weather
Squally showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind
South or southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
High or very high.
Weather
Squally showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Wind
West, backing south or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state
Very high becoming high.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Faeroes

Wind
South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high.
Weather
Squally showers then occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
Weather
Wintry showers, sleet later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough in west.
Weather
Wintry showers then occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming westerly, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high in east.
Weather
Occasional rain then squally wintry showers, sleet or snow for a time in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming very poor for a time in west.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.

In north

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather
Squally snow showers.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor. Light or moderate icing at times in far west.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 for a time in west.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time in west.
Weather
Rain, sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good. Occasionally very poole harbour.

East Central Section

Wind
Southwesterly, veering westerly, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in far west.
Weather
Occasional rain and drizzle, then squally showers, becoming wintry for a time in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.

Wind
Southwesterly at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, increasing violent storm 11 for a time in far north.
Sea state
High or very high, occasionally very rough at first.
Weather
Rain, thundery at times, with sleet or snow in southeast, then squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in east between 67 north and 70 north, decreasing 6 at times elsewhere.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing except in southeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times in east near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms08.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.

In west

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in north.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather
Snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing except in far south, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

In east

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, but northerly or northeasterly gale 8 or severe gale 9 in far west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather
Rain, sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in east.
Sea state
Very rough occasionally high.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms expected in Denmark Strait and north Iceland with gales or severe gales in remaining areas except Sole.

Unscheduled storm warnings are broadcast via Safetynet and in bulletin WONT54 EGRR available via some internet and ftpmail outlets

The 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.