High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 071200UTC, low 61 north 12 west 973 expected 58 north 03 west 990 by 081200UTC. Low 47 north 20 west 1014 expected 47 north 03 west 1008 by same time. High 52 north 35 west 1023 expected 47 north 22 west 1028 by that time. New low expected 74 north 20 west 989 by 091200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or southwest, veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or southwest, veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough,.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southwest veering northwest, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery until later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later, then variable 3 later in north.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, then moderate later in north.
- Weather
- Showers, squally until later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor until later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough, then moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northerly 4 to 6 later, then backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
East Northern Section
In eastern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, then backing westerly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
In western half of area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far north.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate later.
West Northern Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later in west.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly, backing southerly or southeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain and drizzle, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, but cyclonic at first in southeast, 5 to 7, but variable 2 to 4 in southwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southeast and backing southerly 4 to 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but rough or very rough until later in far northeast.
- Weather
- Showers in north and east, but thundery rain at first in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in north and east, but moderate occasionally poor at first in far southeast.
West Central Section
In northeastern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain, drizzle and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
In southwestern half of area
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7 veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in east, otherwise rain, drizzle and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
In area north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, but variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Iceland
In northwest of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor later.
In northeast of area
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in north.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Northerly 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in far southeast and slight or moderate until later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first in southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough for a time in far southwest.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales are expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland.
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.