High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
New low expected 72 north 19 west 990 by 240000UTC. Developing Atlantic low moving rapidly northeastwards, expected 55 north 24 west 979 by same time. Low 50 north 06 west 974 expected 53 north 06 east 990 by that time. Lows 62 north 01 east 992 and 60 north 24 west 989 both losing their identities
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 backing westerly 5 or 6, then southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very high at first in east, otherwise high becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest, backing southwest later, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- High at first in southeast, otherwise very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor later.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming southerly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming southerly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming southerly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 72 north 19 west 990 by 240000UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 to the north of 69 north in the east of Denmark Strait until 231300UTC, and also in the far northwest of sea area north Iceland until 240100UTC. Also, northeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times until 232200UTC in the far northwest of sea area north Iceland, although this area is mostly covered in ice. Developing Atlantic low moving rapidly northeastwards, expected 55 north 24 west 979 by 240000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 after 240300UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both east of 23 west and south of 57 north.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in southeast, then increasing 5 or 6 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in southwest but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in south and southeast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high or very high later in southeast.
- Weather
- Squally showers, then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly northeasterly, backing northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers in north and west, rain or sleet showers in south and east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in south, and later also in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain for a time in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later except in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in north, and then very high later in far northeast.
- Weather
- Showers then rain, then squally showers later in far north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good becoming moderate or poor.
West Central Section
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, then becoming northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, fog patches for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 72 north 19 west 990 by 240000UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 to the north of 69 north in the east of Denmark Strait until 231300UTC, and also in the far northwest of sea area north Iceland until 240100UTC. Also, northeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times until 232200UTC in the far northwest of sea area north Iceland, although this area is mostly covered in ice. Developing Atlantic low moving rapidly northeastwards, expected 55 north 24 west 979 by 240000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 after 240300UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both east of 23 west and south of 57 north.
In area to the south of 69 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, then decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- High at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at first in east to the north of 66 north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
In area to the north of 69 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, then decreasing 3 or 4 later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good later in south. Severe or very severe icing, with temperatures ms06 to ms09, but becoming light or moderate later, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, and then dying out later in the south.
North Iceland
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 72 north 19 west 990 by 240000UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds will continue to reach storm force 10 to the north of 69 north in the east of Denmark Strait until 231300UTC, and also in the far northwest of sea area north Iceland until 240100UTC. Also, northeasterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times until 232200UTC in the far northwest of sea area north Iceland, although this area is mostly covered in ice. Developing Atlantic low moving rapidly northeastwards, expected 55 north 24 west 979 by 240000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 after 240300UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both east of 23 west and south of 57 north.
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly mainly 7 to severe gale 9, but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 until later in far northwest, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later except in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Snow or freezing rain, but becoming mainly fair later except in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good, but becoming mainly good later except in far northwest. Severe or very severe icing until later in far northwest, with temperatures ms07 to ms10, otherwise light or moderate icing gradually becoming confined to far northwest, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, with occasional sleet later in south, fog banks in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor in north, but in south, moderate or good occasionally poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in east but southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in central areas.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but becoming mainly fair in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming good in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in Rockall and East Northern Section. Storm force winds expected in Bailey and East Central Section. Severe gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in West Northern Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland.
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.
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