High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 260000UTC, low 42 north 13 west 1007 expected 48 north 08 west 1000 by 270000UTC. Low 48 north 15 west losing its identity by same time. Low 65 north 14 west 1016 expected 66 north 15 west 1029 by that time. at 260000UTC, high 41 north 39 west 1029 expected 39 north 35 west 1029 by 270000UTC. New low expected 48 north 45 west 1010 by same time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southeast becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5, then mainly east or northeast, 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Easterly backing northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise east or northeast, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly east backing northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- East or southeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming variable, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, but 6 or 7 at first in far northwest and variable 2 to 4 in northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough until later in northwest, and slight at times in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in east.
West Northern Section
In south
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5 until later in east, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, but increasing 7 or gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, but occasional rain in west, thundery later, fog patches later in far southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in southwest.
In northeast
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough until later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in north, but increasing 7 or gale 8 at times in southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery in southwest, mainly fair in east.
- Visibility
West Central Section
In east
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, occasional rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later in west.
In west
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, but increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in northwest and 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate to very poor, occasionally good in south.
Denmark Strait
In east
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
In west
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor later.
North Iceland
In northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west and 2 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain and drizzle, fog banks becoming fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in west and later in south.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5 later in west and variable 3 or less later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle at times, fog patches later in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
No gales expected.
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.