High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 170000UTC, low 59 north 49 west 973 expected 65 north 38 west with little change by 180000UTC. High 53 north 14 west 1038 expected 5 or 6 north 04 west by same time. New high expected 45 north 34 west 1032 by that time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5, backing south 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers , rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming very rough later, occasionally high later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
East Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 or 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In southwest
- Wind
- Southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
West Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 170000UTC, low 59 north 49 west 973 expected 65 north 38 west with little change by 180000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southern quadrant and within 50 to 200 miles of the centre by 171800UTC.
In northwest quadrant
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 in west, becoming southwest gale 8 to storm 10 later in south, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
- Weather
- Occasional or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In northeast quadrant
- Wind
- Southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high in west later.
- Weather
- Rough at first in north, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west.
- Visibility
- Occasional or showers. Moderate or poor.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, then backing southerly later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
East Central Section
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occlusion rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far northwest.
- Weather
- Occlusion rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southeast, then increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in southeast, very rough or high in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, rain in far northwest later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in far northwest later.
Denmark Strait
In area north of 69 north
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain and snow.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. A risk of slight or moderate icing later with temperatures of ms 03 to ms 07.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
- Weather
- Rain or snow, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, becoming moderate or good later.
North Iceland
In northwest quadrant
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly southwesterly, 5 to 7, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but smooth in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional rain and snow.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
In northeast quadrant
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
In south of area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Westerly veering southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales are expected in Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, north Iceland, and the Norwegian Basin with a risk of severe gales in the East Northern Section. Gales are expected in Bailey, Faeroes, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Strong winds are expected in Rockall, Hebrides, and 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.