Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 251200UTC, low 56 north 29 west 1012 expected 71 north 10 west 1000 by 261200UTC. High 43 north 33 west 1029 expected 59 north 25 west 1040 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
East 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first and 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
East 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in southeast.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Rockall

Wind
In north, southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4. in south, southeasterly backing easterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
In north, moderate, occasionally rough at first. in south, moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Bailey

Wind
In south, southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 . in north, southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
In south, moderate, occasionally rough until later. in north, rough, occasionally moderate later in south.
Weather
In south, mainly fair. in north, showers.
Visibility
Good.

Faeroes

Wind
Southwest 3 to 5, veering northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

East Northern Section

In east

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times near Iceland.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in south.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In southwest

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, then veering easterly later.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Occasional rain, then mainly fair in north and west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In northwest

Wind
Cyclonic becoming westerly, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 5 in south, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at first.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, becoming good.

West Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, decreasing 3 to 5 later in northeast and backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later in southwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at first in east, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first in east.

In southeast

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough occasionally very rough.
Weather
Showers at first in east.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first in east.

In southwest

Wind
Westerly 5 or 6 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west.
Sea state
Rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain later in southwest.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

In northwest

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 in southwest and later in northeast, then backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then very rough later in south.
Weather
Wintry showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor later. Light or moderate icing at first near greenland.

East Central Section

Wind
Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in far west and in southwest, otherwise cyclonic mainly southeasterly, becoming easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast, perhaps gale 8 later in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first in east, otherwise rough occasionally very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast and at first elsewhere.

West Central Section

In east

Wind
Northwesterly 5 or 6 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later in far east.
Weather
Occasional drizzle or showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

In west

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in far northeast, otherwise southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times in west.
Sea state
Rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Fair then showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor mainly later.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in northwest, otherwise cyclonic mainly westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain, sleet and snow at first in east, otherwise sleet and snow showers, becoming mainly fair in west and also later in east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first. Occasional light or moderate icing developing within 100 miles of the greenland coast with temperatures around ms03.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 251200UTC, low 56 north 29 west 1012 expected 71 north 10 west 1000 by 261200UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in area enclosed between 68 and 73 north and east of 07 west in sea area north Iceland from 261600UTC.

Wind
Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first in far north, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far south and 4 at first elsewhere, becoming cyclonic, then mainly westerly or northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, but increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later in east.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches at first in south and snow showers at first in north, then occasional rain, sleet and snow, then snow showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing developing north of 67 north with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing developing within 150 miles of the ice edge in north with temperatures ms07 to ms09.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly for a time in far west, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in north.
Weather
Showers, wintry later in northwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in West Northern Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin with gales in East Central Section.

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.