High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 141200UTC, low 68 north 04 west 971 expected 69 north 10 east 973 by 151200UTC. Lows 50 north 19 west 995, 55 north 16 west 997, 65 north 05 west 975 and 76 north 05 west 993 all losing their identities by same time. High 60 north 39 west 1016 expected 56 north 20 west 1011 by that time. at 141200UTC, high 46 north 35 west 1012 dissipating
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming north or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming north or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high in east, rough or very rough occasionally moderate in west.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. light icing.
East Northern Section
In southwestern quadrant
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later in southwest, occasionally gale 8 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In rest or area
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later in far east.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in far north and far south, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor mainly in north.
In south
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 until later in north, otherwise easterly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, but occasional rain in southwest and later in far south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, decreasing 2 to 4 in west, then becoming easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later in south and west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later in south and west.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 at first in northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Showers at first in east, otherwise fair, then rain in west and also later in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later.
West Central Section
In east
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly, then cyclonic later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers then rain, fog patches later in south.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor later in south.
In west
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times, occasionally gale 8 in north and also later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5 at first in far east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far southeast, becoming slight or moderate in north and west.
- Weather
- Snow showers in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in south.
North Iceland
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 141200UTC, low 68 north 04 west 971 expected 69 north 10 east 973 by 151200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwestern quadrant until 150100UTC.
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in southeast, decreasing 5 to 7 in north and west and later in southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in southeast, becoming rough or very rough in north and west, and later in southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet and snow until later in east, otherwise wintry showers, becoming fair in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east and also at first in west. Occasional light icing in north and west with temperatures of around ms03.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in southeast, veering easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later in far east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional snow in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east. Moderate or severe icing expected at times with temperatures ms07 to ms10, but occasionally very severe at first near the ice in north with temperatures around ms13, becoming occasional light or moderate icing with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 141200UTC, low 68 north 04 west 971 expected 69 north 10 east 973 by 151200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwestern quadrant until 150100UTC.
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 until later in far south, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later near norway coast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Storms expected in East Northern Section and East Central Section with a risk of storms in Shannon and West Northern Section. Severe gales expected in Rockall and West Central Section with gales in Sole, Faeroes and Norwegian Basin.
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.