High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 230000UTC, low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Low 75 north 10 west 989 expected 79 north 12 east 994 by same time. Low 65 north 28 west 996 losing its identity by that time. at 230000UTC, high 50 north 20 west 1031 expected east England 1027 by 240000UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northerly veering southeasterly, then southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest backing south, 4 to 6, backing southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 230000UTC low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the western semicircle, gradually becoming within 50 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle by 232000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 231100UTC, transferring to the northeastern quadrant by 232000UTC and then between 150 and 300 miles in the northern quadrant by 240600UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later.
In south
- Wind
- In south, southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, then high or very high later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming poor.
West Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 230000UTC low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the western semicircle, gradually becoming within 50 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle by 232000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 231100UTC, transferring to the northeastern quadrant by 232000UTC and then between 150 and 300 miles in the northern quadrant by 240600UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, then gale 8 to storm 10 later in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in west and high later in east.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in east.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 except in far northwest, occasionally violent storm 11 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in east, occasionally very high later in southeast.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional rain in south and east, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and east.
East Central Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 230000UTC low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the western semicircle, gradually becoming within 50 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle by 232000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 231100UTC, transferring to the northeastern quadrant by 232000UTC and then between 150 and 300 miles in the northern quadrant by 240600UTC.
In east
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south and severe gale 9 in north, increasing storm 10 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high except in southeast, occasionally very high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In west
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 for a time in north, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in north.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good in south.
West Central Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 230000UTC low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the western semicircle, gradually becoming within 50 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle by 232000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 231100UTC, transferring to the northeastern quadrant by 232000UTC and then between 150 and 300 miles in the northern quadrant by 240600UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 except in far southeast, becoming westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 in south and then later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in north.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Denmark Strait
In area south of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, becoming northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later near greenland coast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, but sleet or snow at times near greenland, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In area north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west and also later in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet or snow, fog patches at first in northeast, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until l ater. Occasional light icing expected at first in far northwest with temperatures around ms03.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, backing southerly later in west and becoming variable 2 to 4 later in east.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in northwest, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers until l ater, but occasional rain at first in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storms are expected in East Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Storms are expected in West Northern Section and East Central Section. Severe gales are expected in West Central Section and north Iceland. Gales are expected in Norwegian Basin.
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.