High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 081200UTC, low 62 north 09 west 992 expected 65 north 03 west by 091200UTC. Low 45 north 12 west 1011 expected 46 north 09 west 1015 by same time. Low 44 north 43 west 1000 expected 45 north 34 west 996 by that time. at 081200UTC, high 59 north 41 west 1020 expected 58 north 39 west 1021 by 091200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 or 3 at first in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or southwest veering northwest later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In northwest
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in east, becoming mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In northeast
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
West Northern Section
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 or 3, becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In northeast
- Wind
- Northerly 5 or 6, decreasing 4 or 5, then becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers at first in east, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In south
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in far south.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate or rough, then becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers at first in east, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 or 5, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later except in far east.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, perhaps thundery later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northerly 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In southwest
- Wind
- Variable 3 or 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, occasional rain or drizzle later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
West Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, perhaps thundery, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair, then thundery rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4, then becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor, but very poor at times.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, but variable 2 to 4 until later in far northwest, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 5 or 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain and showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in West Northern Section and West Central Section.
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.