High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 251200UTC, high 65 north 07 east 1026 expected 70 north 17 east 1030 by 261200UTC. Lows 67 north 21 west 1009, 55 north 27 west 1009, 48 north 18 west 1007 and 49 north 07 west 1008 all losing their identities
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming east or southeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeast backing northeast, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- East or southeast, backing northeast later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first in southeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
In northwest
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly, 6 or 7 in northwest and 3 to 5 elsewhere, but occasionally gale 8 at first in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 until later in southeast and far east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in east, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northerly 4 or 5, veering northeasterly 3 or 4, then easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later in south and west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
East Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery for a time in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic in far east, otherwise northerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times in east, but occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery, becoming mainly fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming mainly northerly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
West Central Section
In east
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers at first in east, occasional rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in west.
In west
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north, perhaps gale 8 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Fair at first in north and east, otherwise rain or drizzle at times, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Good at first in north and east, otherwise moderate to very poor, occasionally good until later.
Denmark Strait
In east
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 in far southeast and variable 2 to 4 in far northeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later in far south and becoming variable 2 to 4 later elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair in far north, otherwise rain at times, fog patches in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in far north, but very poor in far southeast.
In west
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in east.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Iceland
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in north and west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle with fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 until later in far north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in far north, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair until later in northwest and far north, otherwise occasional rain or drizzle with fog patches.
- Visibility
- Mainly good until later in northwest and far north, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in 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.