Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At121200UTC, low 58 north 10 west 976 expected 65 north 08 west 995 by 131200UTC. New low expected 63 north 20 west 994 by same time. Low 48 north 41 west 990 losing its identity by that time. at 121200UTC, 48 north 55 west 1001 expected 52 north 42 west 982 by 131200UTC.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest, 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough, becoming mainly rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Shannon

Wind
West 3 or 4, backing southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
In south, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5. in north, cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, then backing southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
In south, very rough or high, becoming moderate or rough later. in north, rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
In south, squally showers. in north, squally showers.
Visibility
In south, good, occasionally poor. in north, good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
In east, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later, backing southeasterly later . in west, cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly later, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
In east, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough. in west, rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
In east, rain or squally showers . in west, rain or squally showers.
Visibility
In east, good, occasionally poor. in west, good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic becoming southerly or southeasterly later, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, squally at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In northwest

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northwesterly at first, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in extreme northwest and decreasing 2 at times later.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough in west and moderate in east near Iceland.
Weather
Rain or showers, wintry at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, decreasing 3 to 5, veering easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 in far south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough.
Weather
Showers, squally and wintry at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

West Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Northerly backing northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Mainly very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or sleet, but snow in extreme north later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at times later.

In northwest

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 in far northwest and 6 later in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in east.
Weather
Wintry showers, good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Northerly 4 to 6, until later in east, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, but 7 or gale 8 in far south later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northeast, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Mainly fair, rain later in extreme south.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

East Central Section

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 at first east, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north and northeast.
Weather
Wintry showers at first in east and northeast, fair later in north, but rain, perhaps thundery in southwest, spreading northwards.

West Central Section

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in north, increasing severe gale 9 at times later in far northwest and southwest, but decreasing 3 to 5 at times later in central areas.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in southwest.
Weather
Fair at first in north, otherwise occasional rain, thundery in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning
Issued:

Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times throughout in that part of Denmark Strait in an area which lies between 68 and 70 north and west of 28 west.

In southwest

Wind
In the area south of 68 north and west of 28 west, northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, elsewhere northerly or northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high for a time, but occasionally moderate in southwest.
Weather
Mainly fair in far west until later, otherwise sleet and snow at times.
Visibility
Good in far west, elsewhere moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in near the ice edge, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, occasional severe icing with temperatures around ms05.

North Iceland

In north

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in extreme west close to the ice, decreasing 3 to 5 elsewhere.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate in north and northwest.
Weather
Mainly fair at first in northeast, otherwise occasional rain, sleet and snow, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in far west near the ice edge, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, occasional severe icing with temperatures around ms05.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly easterly or northeasterly at first, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west and later in east, decreasing 3 to 5 in south and later in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at times, but sleet and snow in northwest, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

In east

Wind
Southeasterly 3 to 5, but elsewhere, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Weather
Mainly fair in northeast, otherwise occasional rain or showers, squally at times, mainly in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms expected at first in Denmark Strait and in West Central Section with severe gales in West Northern Section, East Northern Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in East Central Section and a risk of gales in Bailey.

Unscheduled storm warnings are broadcast via Safetynet and in bulletin WONT54 EGRR available via some internet and ftpmail outlets

The 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.