Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 130000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 63 north 19 west 964 by 140000UTC. Low 58 north 47 west 960 expected 57 north 40 west with little change by same time. Low central Iceland 970 expected 70 north 13 west 972 by that time. New low expected 63 north 33 west 969 by 140000UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time in north and west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Southeast Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 130000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 63 north 19 west 964 by 140000UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 131800UTC and 140500UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both north of 60 north and east of 23 west, and also in sea area Southeast Iceland after 140400UTC. In addition, southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far southeast of sea area north Iceland after 140500UTC and in the far northwest of Norwegian Basin after 140700UTC. Also, southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 04 east and 06 east and south of 64 north between 132000UTC and 140400UTC. Low 58 north 47 west 960 expected 57 north 40 west with little change by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 150 and 550 miles of the centre in the southeast quadrant until 132100UTC and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 132100UTC. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 68 north and 70 north in the far east of Denmark Strait until 131800UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, but becoming rough for a time near the coast.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 130000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 63 north 19 west 964 by 140000UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 131800UTC and 140500UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both north of 60 north and east of 23 west, and also in sea area Southeast Iceland after 140400UTC. In addition, southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far southeast of sea area north Iceland after 140500UTC and in the far northwest of Norwegian Basin after 140700UTC. Also, southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 04 east and 06 east and south of 64 north between 132000UTC and 140400UTC. Low 58 north 47 west 960 expected 57 north 40 west with little change by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 150 and 550 miles of the centre in the southeast quadrant until 132100UTC and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 132100UTC. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 68 north and 70 north in the far east of Denmark Strait until 131800UTC.
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time in south and east, occasionally storm 10 for a time in south and east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in east.
- Weather
- Fair until later in far northwest, otherwise rain or squally showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good in far northwest but moderate or poor elsewhere.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in north and west, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in far northwest, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 130000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 63 north 19 west 964 by 140000UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 131800UTC and 140500UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both north of 60 north and east of 23 west, and also in sea area Southeast Iceland after 140400UTC. In addition, southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far southeast of sea area north Iceland after 140500UTC and in the far northwest of Norwegian Basin after 140700UTC. Also, southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 04 east and 06 east and south of 64 north between 132000UTC and 140400UTC. Low 58 north 47 west 960 expected 57 north 40 west with little change by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 150 and 550 miles of the centre in the southeast quadrant until 132100UTC and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 132100UTC. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 68 north and 70 north in the far east of Denmark Strait until 131800UTC.
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Mainly cyclonic 4 to 6, but northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times, and with snow at times in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east and very poor in west.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southeast, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later, increasing storm 10 at times later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally thundery wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast and later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 130000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 63 north 19 west 964 by 140000UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 131800UTC and 140500UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both north of 60 north and east of 23 west, and also in sea area Southeast Iceland after 140400UTC. In addition, southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far southeast of sea area north Iceland after 140500UTC and in the far northwest of Norwegian Basin after 140700UTC. Also, southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 04 east and 06 east and south of 64 north between 132000UTC and 140400UTC. Low 58 north 47 west 960 expected 57 north 40 west with little change by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 150 and 550 miles of the centre in the southeast quadrant until 132100UTC and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 132100UTC. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 68 north and 70 north in the far east of Denmark Strait until 131800UTC.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, thundery or wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in central areas and later in north.
- Sea state
- High, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Squally showers, thundery or wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Poor, occasionally moderate.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 130000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 63 north 19 west 964 by 140000UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 131800UTC and 140500UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both north of 60 north and east of 23 west, and also in sea area Southeast Iceland after 140400UTC. In addition, southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far southeast of sea area north Iceland after 140500UTC and in the far northwest of Norwegian Basin after 140700UTC. Also, southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 04 east and 06 east and south of 64 north between 132000UTC and 140400UTC. Low 58 north 47 west 960 expected 57 north 40 west with little change by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 150 and 550 miles of the centre in the southeast quadrant until 132100UTC and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 132100UTC. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 68 north and 70 north in the far east of Denmark Strait until 131800UTC.
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far east between 68 north and 70 north, decreasing 6 at times elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times, but rain or sleet at times in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times within 100 miles of the greenland coast in the eastern half of the area, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but occasionally severe icing in far east between 69 north and 70 north, with temperatures ms06 to ms08.
North Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 130000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 63 north 19 west 964 by 140000UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 131800UTC and 140500UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both north of 60 north and east of 23 west, and also in sea area Southeast Iceland after 140400UTC. In addition, southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far southeast of sea area north Iceland after 140500UTC and in the far northwest of Norwegian Basin after 140700UTC. Also, southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 04 east and 06 east and south of 64 north between 132000UTC and 140400UTC. Low 58 north 47 west 960 expected 57 north 40 west with little change by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 150 and 550 miles of the centre in the southeast quadrant until 132100UTC and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 132100UTC. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 68 north and 70 north in the far east of Denmark Strait until 131800UTC.
In far southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor later.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, but becoming northerly 7 to severe gale 9 in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle in southeast, with fog banks, but snow or freezing rain in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good. Light or moderate icing at times in northwest, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times between 69 north and 70 north in far west, with temperatures ms06 or ms07.
Norwegian Basin
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 130000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 63 north 19 west 964 by 140000UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 131800UTC and 140500UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies both north of 60 north and east of 23 west, and also in sea area Southeast Iceland after 140400UTC. In addition, southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the far southeast of sea area north Iceland after 140500UTC and in the far northwest of Norwegian Basin after 140700UTC. Also, southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both between 04 east and 06 east and south of 64 north between 132000UTC and 140400UTC. Low 58 north 47 west 960 expected 57 north 40 west with little change by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 150 and 550 miles of the centre in the southeast quadrant until 132100UTC and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the south quadrant after 132100UTC. Finally, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 68 north and 70 north in the far east of Denmark Strait until 131800UTC.
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time between 04 east and 06 east, and also later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in south and east, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, squally or thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in south and east.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in north Iceland. Storm force winds expected in Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait and Norwegian Basin. Severe gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, East Northern Section and East Central Section. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon and Rockall.
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.