High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 241200UTC, low 62 north 24 west 959 expected 67 north 15 west 970 by 251200UTC. New low expected 57 north 43 west 993 by same time. Highs 41 north 15 west 1025 and 65 north 09 east 1020 dissipating by that time. at 241200UTC, high 44 north 49 west 1033 expected 43 north 39 west 1030 by 251200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwest veering west or northwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in west, otherwise slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- High or very high becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high, but in east rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 242200UTC in the northeast of East Northern Section. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 throughout the period in Denmark Strait east of 29 west. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 after 250500UTC in the far west of north Iceland.
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in northeast, becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 in south.
- Sea state
- High or very high becoming very rough or high, occasionally rough later near Icelandic coast and in southwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, becoming westerly or northwesterly except in northeast, then cyclonic later in south, 4 to 6, but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but high in northeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In far southeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly veering northerly, 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, mainly fair in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in north.
Denmark Strait
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 242200UTC in the northeast of East Northern Section. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 throughout the period in Denmark Strait east of 29 west. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 after 250500UTC in the far west of north Iceland.
In area east of 29 west
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, but 5 to 7 at first in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in north, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but sleet or snow in north and west.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor.
In area west of 29 west
- Wind
- Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 backing northerly 6 to gale 8, then westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4 in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in east.
North Iceland
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 until 242200UTC in the northeast of East Northern Section. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 throughout the period in Denmark Strait east of 29 west. Northerly winds will also reach storm force 10 after 250500UTC in the far west of north Iceland.
In area north of 71 north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 except in southeast, occasionally storm 10 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain or drizzle, with sleet or snow in northwest, fog patches later in southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate to very poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northerly severe gale 9 or storm 10 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in north, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, showers in southeast, sleet or snow later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later in northwest.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, but 3 to 5 at first in far northeast, veering southwesterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming high in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain at times, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storms are expected in Denmark Strait, with storms expected in north Iceland. Severe gales are expected in East Northern Section, with gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales are also possible in Rockall.
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.