Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Low 58 north 22 west 983 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Storm warning
Issued:

At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Squally rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Storm warning
Issued:

At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Squally rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain and fog patches later.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate to very poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then increasing storm 10 at times later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in southeast.
Weather
Showers at first in west, otherwise rain.
Visibility
Good at first in west, otherwise moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

In area east of 35 west

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, increasing severe gale 9 at times later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Occasional rain or squally showers, becoming fair later in southwest.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In area west of 35 west

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in west and 7 in east.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate in west and very rough later in east.
Weather
Showers, wintry in far northwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in far northwest.

East Central Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then increasing storm 10 at times later in north.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in far north.
Weather
Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far north.
Weather
Rain at first in far northeast, otherwise squally thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, backing westerly 4 to 6 in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in west.
Weather
Squally showers, perhaps thundery at first in east, becoming mainly fair in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in east.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning
Issued:

At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.

Wind
Variable 3 or 4 at first in north, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 except near Iceland coast and near the greenland coast in west, occasionally storm 10 later between 67 and 70 north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Mainly fair then occasional rain, sleet, snow and freezing rain.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate to very poor. Occasional light icing later in far north with temperatures around ms02.

North Iceland

In north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, mainly easterly, 6 to gale 8 in south and also later in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far southwest.
Weather
Wintry showers, then rain or sleet in south, and rain and snow later in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and very poor later in north.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic mainly easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and later in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather
Rain at times, fog patches in southeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in southeast.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate in east, occasionally very rough later in west.
Weather
Fair, then drizzle later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in Denmark Strait with storms in Rockall, Bailey, East Northern Section and East Central Section and a risk of storms in Southeast Iceland. Severe gales expected in Faeroes, West Northern Section and north Iceland with gales in Shannon, West Central Section and Norwegian Basin.

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.

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