High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 310000UTC, low 60 north 10 west 1002 expected 63 north 05 west 1001 by 010000UTC. Low 56 north 56 west 995 expected 55 north 45 west 1001 by same time. Low 62 north 28 west 999 expected 60 north 16 west 1002 by that time. at 310000UTC, low 47 north 36 west 1006 moving steadily east, losing its identity by 010000UTC. High 65 north 09 west 1010 dissipating by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less at first in west, otherwise cyclonic, becoming mainly northerly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- East or northeast becoming cyclonic, mainly southwest later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming easterly or northeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 except in far north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in north and poor in south.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later in far southeast, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in far northwest, otherwise cyclonic, mainly easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in north, moderate throughout in south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming mainly fair in northeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south and later in far northwest.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic later in south 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in north and later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 or 4, becoming cyclonic, mainly southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far southeast, becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, thundery at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at first, wintry showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 68 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in far northeast, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far north, decreasing 3 to 5 later, occasionally 6 later in east.
- Sea state
- Rough, but very rough at first in north, occasionally moderate later in far west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, but sleet or snow until later in far north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor until later in far north.
In area to the south of 68 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough at times later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Variable, mainly easterly or northeasterly at first, 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, fair at first in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in West Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Faeroes, East Central Section 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.