High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 070000UTC, low 59 north 15 west 998 expected 61 north 08 west 999 by 080000UTC. Low 46 north 26 west 1007 expected 38 north 18 west 1000 by same time. Low 50 north 26 west 1008 expected 50 north 18 west 1010 by that time. New low expected 67 north 29 west 1022 by 080000UTC. High 62 north 41 west 1032 expected 59 north 33 west 1029 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight in lundy and northeast fastnet, but elsewhere slight or moderate
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming northeasterly 5 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate, but becoming rough in northwest
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate
Rockall
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in northwest rockall and northwest hebrides.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in rockall and west hebrides
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in south, otherwise northeasterly backing northerly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, backing northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time in west
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west and 5 elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly, backing northerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east and 5 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first except in far south, otherwise rough or very rough
- Weather
- Snow showers or rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor
East Northern Section
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 becoming northerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east, otherwise showers, wintry in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, backing northwesterly 3 or 4 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry in north, then rain or sleet later in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in north and moderate in south.
West Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly, backing westerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in south, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in southeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in north.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate later except in far southeast.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southwest
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4 veering southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain in west and south.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor in west and south.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in far southwest, then becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later except in southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery at first in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 5 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain or drizzle at times in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times in east and south, fog patches near greenland.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 in far southeast, then becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough or very rough in far southeast.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers, then rain or snow developing in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor, but becoming moderate to very poor in far southeast.
Norwegian Basin
In area to the west of 05 east
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In area to the east of 05 east
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5 at first near norway, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in west Sole, Shannon and Norwegian Basin. Risk of gales at first in northeast Bailey.
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.