Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 141200UTC, low 47 north 53 west 998 expected 47 north 36 west with little change by 151200UTC. New lows expected 56 north 20 west 988 and 62 north 27 west 985 by same time. Lows 49 north 30 west 981, 55 north 31 west 977 and 70 north 18 west 1008 all losing their identities
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southerly veering southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then increasing gale 8 at times in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain and fog patches, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southerly veering southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, then increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain and fog patches, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic mainly southerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain and fog patches, then thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then becoming cyclonic mainly southerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain and fog patches, then thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic, but mainly southeasterly at first, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
East Northern Section
In area to the north of 59 north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 except in far northwest, then becoming variable 2 to 4 in east and cyclonic 3 to 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, then showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.
In area to the south of 59 north
- Wind
- Southerly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
West Northern Section
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, but becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in far east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in east.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry in west and north, and with snow for a time in far northwest, then rain in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming very poor for a time in far northwest.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 in far east, but elsewhere northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, backing northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain until later in east, otherwise showers, wintry in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In area to the north of 52 north
- Wind
- Southerly becoming cyclonic, then westerly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery or squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In area to the south of 52 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally thundery showers, then rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Central Section
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, then becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 in south, increasing severe gale 9 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- High at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or showers, wintry at times in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 or 5 at first in far northeast, otherwise northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or showers, wintry at times in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 to the south of 70 north, perhaps severe gale 9 later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in south.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times in southeast, but elsewhere sleet, snow or freezing rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times within 100 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 or 6 at first in far northwest, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in south but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in north but rough or very rough in south.
- Weather
- Rain, drizzle or sleet at times, with snow or freezing rain at times in northwest, fog banks or extensive fog except in southeast.
- Visibility
- Mainly moderate to very poor, but in southeast, good, becoming moderate or poor later. Occasional light icing at first in far northwest, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Southeasterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough, then becoming very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 or 6 at first in far northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Shannon, West Northern Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.
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.