High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 281200UTC, low 50 north 19 west 1003 expected 51 north 05 west 998 by 291200UTC. Low 53 north 25 west 1003 expected 54 north 22 west 1000 by same time. Low 72 north 06 west 1007 expected 74 north 10 west 1002 by that time. New lows expected 65 north 31 west 1010 and 60 north 42 west 1011 by 291200UTC. Low 55 north 41 west 1004 moving rather quickly southeastwards and losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain, then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south.
- Weather
- Thundery rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in east, slight throughout in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable, but mainly northwesterly at first, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Rain at times later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west and later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east and north, and rough later in far south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in far south.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, mainly in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 except in southeast, then becoming westerly 4 to 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in north and east, otherwise cyclonic mainly westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at first in northeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time at first in northwestern and central areas, then decreasing 3 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain later in far south, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In far northeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times in north, showers in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor in north.
Norwegian Basin
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly, backing northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7 at first in far northeast, otherwise cyclonic 2 to 4, but becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Risk of gales in Sole, Shannon and the north of 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.