Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 220000UTC, low 65 north 32 west 983 expected 66 north 27 west 996 by 230000UTC. New lows expected 75 north 05 west 988 and 62 north 36 west 1001 by same time. Low moving rather quickly northeast expected 50 north 43 west 998 by that time. at 220000UTC, high 44 north 38 west 1032 expected 48 north 21 west 1031 by 230000UTC

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
In west, variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5. in east, variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
In west, moderate or rough. in east, slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
In west, showers. in east, showers, fog patches.
Visibility
In west, moderate or good. in east, moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate at first.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6. in southeast, southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In northwest, rough or very rough. in southeast, moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
In northwest, showers. in southeast, occasional rain, showers later.
Visibility
In northwest, good. in southeast, good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
In southeast, southwesterly 4 to 6. in northwest, southwesterly 7 or gale 8, decreasing 6.
Sea state
In southeast, rough or very rough. in northwest, very rough, becoming high for a time.
Weather
In southeast, showers. in northwest, squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

In north

Wind
Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 or 7, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first and 4 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

West Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in north.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers, squally at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In south

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, decreasing 4 or 5 later in north and becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally until later, then rain later in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

In northwest

Wind
Cyclonic, 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 until later in far south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers in east and also later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in east and also later in west.

East Central Section

In east

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first in north and moderate later in far south.
Weather
Showers, but occasional rain in southeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast.

In southwest

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Showers, rain later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in west.

In northwest

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state
Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

West Central Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 220000UTC, low moving rather quickly northeast expected 50 north 43 west 998 by 230000UTC. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 47 and 52 north in the far west of West Central Section from 230600UTC.

In north

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 later in far southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southwest.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later.

In southeast

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, then cyclonic, mainly southerly, 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough, becoming very rough later.
Weather
Showers at first, rain later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor later.

In southwest

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 later in far northwest.
Sea state
Rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor.

Denmark Strait

In far southeast

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate near Iceland.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In rest of area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first then decreasing 5 at times, becoming variable 2 to 4 in far west and also later elsewhere near the greenland coast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate near the greenland coast.
Weather
Occasional rain, sleet and snow.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, becoming good at times later.

North Iceland

In southeastern half of area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far northwest, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times in southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in far northwest and high in southeast.
Weather
Showers in southeast, occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches in north and west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast and very poor in north and west.

In northwestern half of area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 until later in far east and far southeast, otherwise easterly or northeasterly backing northerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or drizzle and fog patches until later in east and south, otherwise occasional rain and snow.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, becoming good at times later. Light icing in northwest with temperatures around ms02.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in northwest.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in both east and West Northern Sections and both east and West Central Sections, with severe gales in Rockall and Bailey. Gales expected in all other areas except Sole and Norwegian Basin, these perhaps severe in Southeast 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.

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.

Take our short survey