High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 240000UTC, low 63 north 34 west 1001 expected 58 north 28 west 1006 by 250000UTC. Low 60 north 21 west 1003 expected 67 north 17 west with little change by same time. High northeastern England 1026 expected 64 north 10 east 1024 by that time. at 240000UTC, low 69 north 09 west 1010 moving away steadily east-northeastwards
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times in east, becoming variable 3 or less in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in east.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- East or southeast 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly mainly 3 to 5, but 6 at first in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- South 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in northwest, otherwise rough, but becoming moderate later in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in west.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwesterly backing southeasterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far west, becoming southerly 4 to 6, then becoming variable 3 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Northern Section
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast, then becoming variable 2 to 4 except in far east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.
West Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In southwest
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first in northwest, decreasing 4 later in west and north.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate later in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
East Central Section
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in north and later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in north, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, then showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Thundery rain at first in southeast, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 except in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but moderate throughout in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers, but mainly fair in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in northeast.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in east, perhaps severe gale 9 later in east, but becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in far southeast and variable 2 to 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in east.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but becoming fair later in west, fog patches later in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor later in far southeast.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5 in far south, but elsewhere variable 3 or less, increasing 4 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 72 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In area to the south of 72 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly, 3 or 4, occasionally 5 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in far northwest.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly becoming variable, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight near norway.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in the east of Denmark Strait. Gales expected in north Iceland.
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.