High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 150000UTC, low 67 north 11 west 943 expected 73 north 06 east 960 by 160000UTC. New lows expected 65 north 36 west 998 and 68 north 24 west 996 by same time. High 44 north 43 west 1026 expected 48 north 23 west 1030 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7 veering northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor until later.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough, becoming rough later in south.
- Weather
- Rain at first in southeast, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Poor at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9 veering west 4 to 6, then veering northwest later.
- Sea state
- Very high at first in north, otherwise high becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- High or very high becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.
Southeast Iceland
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 150000UTC, low 67 north 11 west 943 expected 73 north 06 east 960 by 160000UTC. Northerly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 until 152000UTC in that part of sea area north Iceland that lies both north of 72 north and west of 11 west. In addition, southwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 at times in the southeast of sea area north Iceland until 150900UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high becoming very rough or high, then rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good later.
East Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 becoming northwesterly 5 or 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.
In northwest
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at first in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later in west, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- High at first in east, otherwise very rough, but becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good later.
West Northern Section
In far northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in very far northwest, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later in southwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and 4 in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly 5 or 6, veering northwesterly 4 or 5 later in east but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first except in far south, otherwise rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in far southeast.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first except in far south, otherwise rough.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
West Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Westerly 6 decreasing 4 or 5, then backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate becoming good.
In northwest
- Wind
- Westerly backing southerly 4 to 6, then backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first except in far south, otherwise rough.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 backing southeasterly 4 to 6, then increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain later in far south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in far south.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northerly 6 to gale 8 at first in far east and perhaps northwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first near the greenland coast in far west, otherwise mainly cyclonic 4 to 6, but becoming variable 2 to 4 in northeast.
- Sea state
- High at first in far east, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first in east, otherwise rain or snow at times, but fair in far west.
- Visibility
- Good in far west, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at first to the north of 67 north in far east, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
North Iceland
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 150000UTC, low 67 north 11 west 943 expected 73 north 06 east 960 by 160000UTC. Northerly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 until 152000UTC in that part of sea area north Iceland that lies both north of 72 north and west of 11 west. In addition, southwesterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 at times in the southeast of sea area north Iceland until 150900UTC.
In far southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far east, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very high becoming high, then very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain then squally sleet or snow showers, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, becoming moderate later.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in northwest, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in south but variable 2 to 4 later in north.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in south and east, becoming rough or very rough later in southwest and moderate or rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east, otherwise snow showers, then rain or snow later in southwest but becoming fair later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, but becoming good in northwest. Light or moderate icing in north and west, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing in far north and far northwest, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly mainly 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 at first in northwest, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very high at first in northwest, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Poor, becoming moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section and West Central Section. Gales expected at first in the northeast of sea area north Iceland and also later in the far west of Denmark Strait.
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.