High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 090000UTC, low 43 north 21 west 971 expected 46 north 18 west 976 by 100000UTC. New lows expected 62 north 03 west 1011 and 72 north 20 west 1007 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in far east.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in north.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate in far northeast.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southeasterly backing easterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Rough in southwest, slight or moderate in northeast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest becoming cyclonic, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7 becoming northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming westerly 5 or 6 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in east, and also at first in south, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in east, and also at first in south.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise easterly backing northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, but becoming fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in far south.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 in far north.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate, but occasionally slight in west and rough in northeast.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in far southeast, veering easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, mainly at first, fog patches until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east and south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor at first in west.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east and north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly at first except in far northeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southeast, then decreasing 4 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in west.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, then veering northwesterly later and increasing gale 8 at times between 29 west and 33 west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first in south, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in south. Light icing at times in east, within 50 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 or 4 becoming variable 3 or less, then northerly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Iceland
In far southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, then variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6 at first in east and variable 2 to 4 at first in west, but becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but slight in northwest.
- Weather
- Snow showers in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor in east. Light or moderate icing at times in north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 near the Norwegian coast, then veering northerly or northeasterly in west and north, but becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming wintry later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in north Iceland. Gales expected in Shannon, East Central Section and Denmark Strait. Risk of gales later in the north of sea area Southeast Iceland and also in the west of 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.