High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 270000UTC, low 61 north 16 west 956 expected 65 north 10 west 963 by 280000UTC. Low 38 north 57 west 1004 expected 45 north 40 west 982 by same time. New lows expected 67 north 03 west 964 and 57 north 36 west 987 by that time. Low 64 north 29 west 978 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West 6 to gale 8, backing southwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- High, becoming very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Rockall
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 270000UTC, low 61 north 16 west 956 expected 65 north 10 west 963 by 280000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in northeast Rockall until 270900UTC, Bailey until 271500UTC and south Faeroes from 271000UTC and until 271900UTC, but violent storm force 11 in far northeast Rockall until 270900UTC and Bailey until 271200UTC. Low 64 north 29 west 978 losing its identity. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait until 272000UTC.
- Wind
- West or southwest gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11, decreasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in north.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Bailey
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 270000UTC, low 61 north 16 west 956 expected 65 north 10 west 963 by 280000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in northeast Rockall until 270900UTC, Bailey until 271500UTC and south Faeroes from 271000UTC and until 271900UTC, but violent storm force 11 in far northeast Rockall until 270900UTC and Bailey until 271200UTC. Low 64 north 29 west 978 losing its identity. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait until 272000UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first, becoming southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Poor.
Faeroes
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 270000UTC, low 61 north 16 west 956 expected 65 north 10 west 963 by 280000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in northeast Rockall until 270900UTC, Bailey until 271500UTC and south Faeroes from 271000UTC and until 271900UTC, but violent storm force 11 in far northeast Rockall until 270900UTC and Bailey until 271200UTC. Low 64 north 29 west 978 losing its identity. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait until 272000UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in south and east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7 at first except in northwest, otherwise 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In east
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8 in south, then decreasing 5 or 6 later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In west
- Wind
- Cyclonic in far north, otherwise westerly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, backing southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later except in far north and northeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 6 to gale 8 in northeast and 4 to 6 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far north.
- Weather
- Rain at times in north, but sleet and snow in far northwest, showers in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north but very poor in far northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, but wintry showers at times in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, 4 or 5 in far southeast, otherwise 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southerly 6 to gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- High at first in northeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, but occasional rain in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.
West Central Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 270000UTC, low 61 north 16 west 956 expected 65 north 10 west 963 by 280000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in northeast Rockall until 270900UTC, Bailey until 271500UTC and south Faeroes from 271000UTC and until 271900UTC, but violent storm force 11 in far northeast Rockall until 270900UTC and Bailey until 271200UTC. Low 64 north 29 west 978 losing its identity. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait until 272000UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain at times, squally wintry showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Southwesterly backing southerly, 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain, squally wintry showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 270000UTC, low 61 north 16 west 956 expected 65 north 10 west 963 by 280000UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in northeast Rockall until 270900UTC, Bailey until 271500UTC and south Faeroes from 271000UTC and until 271900UTC, but violent storm force 11 in far northeast Rockall until 270900UTC and Bailey until 271200UTC. Low 64 north 29 west 978 losing its identity. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north within 100 miles of the Greenland coast in Denmark Strait until 272000UTC.
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in east between 67 and 70 north, decreasing 6 at times in west and far south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough near coasts.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in southeast but sleet or snow elsewhere.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast and very poor elsewhere. Light or moderate icing expected north of 69 north with temperatures ms03 to ms05.
North Iceland
In southeastern quadrant
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 in southeast except in far southeast, and later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In north and west
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6 at first in far northeast, otherwise 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough until later in northeast, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high in southwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet, but snow in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in northwest. Light or moderate icing expected in northwest with temperatures ms03 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 6 at times until later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in far northeast, otherwise rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Risk of hurricane force winds in Denmark Strait with violent storms expected in West Northern Section. Storms expected in West Central Section with a risk of storms in East Central Section. Severe gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section and Norwegian Basin with gales in all other areas except Sole.
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.
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