High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 080000UTC, low 60 north 08 west 998 expected 65 north 03 west 1002 by 090000UTC. Low 40 north 19 west 1001 expected 38 north 16 west 998 by same time. New low expected 49 north 54 west 998 by that time. at 080000UTC, high 57 north 34 west 1029 expected 55 north 30 west 1036 by 090000UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- East 4 to 6, backing northeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in far east, otherwise moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far west.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in southeast, otherwise rough, occasionally very rough later in far southwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first, otherwise northerly, backing northwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly, backing northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Northerly, backing westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry for a time, occasional rain later in far west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In south
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at first, fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
West Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- westerly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers then rain and drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good becoming moderate occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Variable, becoming southerly or southwesterly, 2 to 4 occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
In southwest
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain and snow, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Good becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
In far southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Northerly, veering northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 in far north and northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southwest, but becoming moderate later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers then fair.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers then fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In west
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow showers in south, rain, freezing rain and snow in far south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south, but very poor in far south.
North Iceland
In far southeast
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic for a time, then becoming northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, except in far west, occasionally gale 8 later in far east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Norwegian Basin
In east
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly, veering southwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In west
- Wind
- Southeasterly, veering westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, East Central Section, West Central Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Sea.
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.