Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 281200UTC, low 50 north 19 west 1003 expected 51 north 05 west 998 by 291200UTC. Low 53 north 25 west 1003 expected 54 north 22 west 1000 by same time. Low 72 north 06 west 1007 expected 74 north 10 west 1002 by that time. New lows expected 65 north 31 west 1010 and 60 north 42 west 1011 by 291200UTC. Low 55 north 41 west 1004 moving rather quickly southeastwards and losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6 veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, then decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery rain, then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough in south.
Weather
Thundery rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
Northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
North or northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northeasterly 5 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate in east, slight throughout in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Variable, but mainly northwesterly at first, 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight.
Weather
Rain at times later in northwest.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later in northwest.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west and later in south.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east and north, and rough later in far south.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in far south.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in east.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain, mainly in east.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 except in southeast, then becoming westerly 4 to 6 later in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east.

East Central Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in north and east, otherwise cyclonic mainly westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far north.
Sea state
Slight at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly for a time, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at first in northeast.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time at first in northwestern and central areas, then decreasing 3 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain later in far south, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

In far northeast

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight becoming moderate.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times, fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.

In the rest of the area

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 in northwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times in north, showers in southeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor in north.

Norwegian Basin

In western half of the area

Wind
Northerly, backing northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Southeasterly 5 to 7 at first in far northeast, otherwise cyclonic 2 to 4, but becoming northwesterly 4 or 5 later in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair, then occasional rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Risk of gales in Sole, Shannon and the north of East Central Section.

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.

Take our short survey