Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Low 66 north 05 east 965 losing its identity by same time. New low expected 66 north 19 east 974 by that time. at 250000UTC, high 64 north 45 west 1029 expected 73 north 36 west 1025 by 260000UTC. High 46 north 24 west 1034 expected 46 north 14 west 1034 by same time.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
High, becoming very rough.
Weather
Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
High, becoming very rough.
Weather
Squally wintry showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
North or northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
Sea state
Very rough or hig.
Weather
Squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
In west, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later. in east, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In west, very rough or high. in east, very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
In west, squally wintry showers. in east, wintry showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast quadrant and later the southern quadrant between 200 and 350 miles of the centre from 252300UTC. And winds are also expected reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in northwest quadrant between 100 and 350 miles of the centre from 260300UTC. Finally winds are expected increase storm force 10 at times in the northwest corner of East Northern Section from 260400UTC.

In area north of 61 north

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough in north, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Squally wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate or poor later.

In rest of area

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic mainly southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, but high or very high later in west.
Weather
Wintry showers, mainly in east at first, then occasional rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast quadrant and later the southern quadrant between 200 and 350 miles of the centre from 252300UTC. And winds are also expected reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in northwest quadrant between 100 and 350 miles of the centre from 260300UTC. Finally winds are expected increase storm force 10 at times in the northwest corner of East Northern Section from 260400UTC.

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 at first, except in far southwest, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in south and northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in northwest, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in southwest.
Weather
Mainly fair in north at first, otherwise rain or sleet, snow later in north, wintry showers later in south.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, but very poor at times later in north, occasionally good at first. Light or moderate icing in the far northwest, and occasional severe or very severe icing later.

East Central Section

In north of area

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in far northwest.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Fair at first in east, otherwise rain and drizzle at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south of area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first, and moderate later in south.
Weather
Fair until later in east, otherwise rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast quadrant and later the southern quadrant between 200 and 350 miles of the centre from 252300UTC. And winds are also expected reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in northwest quadrant between 100 and 350 miles of the centre from 260300UTC. Finally winds are expected increase storm force 10 at times in the northwest corner of East Northern Section from 260400UTC.

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6 at first in east and later in south, otherwise 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 or storm 10 later in far northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later in northwest.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches for a time, squally showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor for a time.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast quadrant and later the southern quadrant between 200 and 350 miles of the centre from 252300UTC. And winds are also expected reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in northwest quadrant between 100 and 350 miles of the centre from 260300UTC. Finally winds are expected increase storm force 10 at times in the northwest corner of East Northern Section from 260400UTC.

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic mainly northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather
Fair at first, but sleet and snow later in south.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally good, at first and very poor at times later. Light or moderate icing later with temperatures ms03 to ms05, but severe or very severe icing in southwest near ice edge later with temperatures ms05 to ms08.

North Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, but very rough or high in far south.
Weather
Occasional snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally poor or very poor, good at times later. Light or moderate icing with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing until later in west and northwest, close to the ice, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or squally sleet and snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Hurricane force winds are expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Violent storms are expected in East Northern Section and storm force winds in West Central Section. Severe gales are expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin with gales in Rockall, Faeroes and East Central Section.

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.