Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 090000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving very rapidly northeastwards, expected 54 north 37 west 985 by 100000UTC. Low 60 north 37 west 979 expected 64 north 23 west 971 by same time. Developing low moving steadily north-northeastwards, expected 74 north 11 west 984 by that time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming west or southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
West or northwest 3 to 5, backing south or southwest 5 to 7 for a time.
Sea state
Rough, becoming very rough except in far east.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor for a time.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, becoming south 6 to gale 8, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, wintry at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly, backing southerly or southeasterly for a time, 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high later in west.
Weather
Rain or showers, wintry at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south but decreasing 4 to 6 in northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain, sleet or showers, wintry at times.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in north.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Southerly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then becoming cyclonic later and decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in east, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in southeast.
Sea state
Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate in far northwest and becoming high for a time in far southeast.
Weather
Rain, sleet, snow or wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing at times in far northwest.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northeast, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in south.
Sea state
Very rough or high in east and south but rough or very rough in west and north.
Weather
Sleet or snow showers, then rain or snow in south and east.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in west and north.

East Central Section

Wind
Northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time, then increasing severe gale 9 later in northwest.
Sea state
Rough at first in southeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in southeast.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 090000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving very rapidly northeastwards, expected 54 north 37 west 985 by 100000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 after 100400UTC in that part of West Central Section that lies both east of 35 west and north of 52 north. Also, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 100500UTC in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 26 west and between 67 north and 69 north.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Southwesterly, veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times, then showers later in north and west, perhaps turning wintry.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

In northern half of the area

Wind
Westerly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 later in northeast.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or snow at times, then squally sleet or snow showers later.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 090000UTC, developing Atlantic low moving very rapidly northeastwards, expected 54 north 37 west 985 by 100000UTC. Westerly winds will reach storm force 10 after 100400UTC in that part of West Central Section that lies both east of 35 west and north of 52 north. Also, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times after 100500UTC in that part of Denmark Strait that lies both east of 26 west and between 67 north and 69 north.

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming northeasterly 6 to gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 later in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing except in southeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing developing later in east near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms08.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing developing, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but occasional severe icing developing later near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind
Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Mainly fair, then sleet or snow in west but rain or sleet in east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west and poor in east. Light or moderate icing developing later in northwest, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 until later in northwest, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first between 04 east and 07 east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force winds expected in East Northern Section, East Central Section and West Central Section. Storm force winds expected in Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Severe gales expected in Shannon, Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Sole.

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.