Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 230000UTC, low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Low 75 north 10 west 989 expected 79 north 12 east 994 by same time. Low 65 north 28 west 996 losing its identity by that time. at 230000UTC, high 50 north 20 west 1031 expected east England 1027 by 240000UTC

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Northerly veering southeasterly, then southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southeast 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Southwest backing south, 4 to 6, backing southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 230000UTC low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the western semicircle, gradually becoming within 50 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle by 232000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 231100UTC, transferring to the northeastern quadrant by 232000UTC and then between 150 and 300 miles in the northern quadrant by 240600UTC.

In north

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, backing southeasterly 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later.

In south

Wind
In south, southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 later in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, then high or very high later.
Weather
Showers, then rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, becoming poor.

West Northern Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 230000UTC low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the western semicircle, gradually becoming within 50 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle by 232000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 231100UTC, transferring to the northeastern quadrant by 232000UTC and then between 150 and 300 miles in the northern quadrant by 240600UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, then gale 8 to storm 10 later in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in west and high later in east.
Weather
Showers, rain later in east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in east.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 except in far northwest, occasionally violent storm 11 in southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in east, occasionally very high later in southeast.
Weather
Showers, then occasional rain in south and east, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and east.

East Central Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 230000UTC low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the western semicircle, gradually becoming within 50 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle by 232000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 231100UTC, transferring to the northeastern quadrant by 232000UTC and then between 150 and 300 miles in the northern quadrant by 240600UTC.

In east

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south and severe gale 9 in north, increasing storm 10 later in far northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high except in southeast, occasionally very high later in northwest.
Weather
Showers, then occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In west

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 for a time in north, veering westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later in south.
Sea state
Rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in north.
Weather
Rain, then squally showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good in south.

West Central Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 230000UTC low 49 north 44 west 996 expected 56 north 28 west 962 by 240000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the western semicircle, gradually becoming within 50 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern semicircle by 232000UTC. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 231100UTC, transferring to the northeastern quadrant by 232000UTC and then between 150 and 300 miles in the northern quadrant by 240600UTC.

Wind
Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 except in far southeast, becoming westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 in south and then later in north.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in north.
Weather
Rain then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Denmark Strait

In area south of 70 north

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times, becoming northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later near greenland coast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, but sleet or snow at times near greenland, fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In area north of 70 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

North Iceland

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west and also later in east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, sleet or snow, fog patches at first in northeast, showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until l ater. Occasional light icing expected at first in far northwest with temperatures around ms03.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, backing southerly later in west and becoming variable 2 to 4 later in east.
Sea state
Very rough at first in northwest, otherwise rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Showers until l ater, but occasional rain at first in east.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Violent storms are expected in East Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Storms are expected in West Northern Section and East Central Section. Severe gales are expected in West Central Section and north Iceland. Gales are expected in 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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