Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 120000UTC, low 68 north 08 west 956 expected 66 north 14 west 956 by 130000UTC. Low 58 north 23 west 965 and low 58 north 53 west 981 both losing their identities by same time.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
Southwest veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state
High, occasionally very rough at first in south, and very high later in north.
Weather
Rain, then squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Rockall

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.

Wind
Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10.
Sea state
High, but very high at times.
Weather
Rain or wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic, 3 to 5 in north, but 7 to severe gale 9 in south, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
High, occasionally very high until later in south and very rough in north.
Weather
Rain, then wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
In south, southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8. in north, cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
In south, squally, wintry showers. in north, wintry showers.
Visibility
In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. in north, moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south and later in southeast.
Weather
Snow at first in northwest, otherwise squally sleet and snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8 in northwest, but gale 8 to storm 10 until later in south and east.
Sea state
High, occasionally very high until later in south, and very rough in northwest, and later in west.
Weather
Occasional snow at first, then squally sleet and snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first, and good at times later.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.

In north

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly, backing westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east and later in south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in north, but gale 8 to storm 10 until later in south and southwest.
Sea state
And increasing severe gale 9 at times later in northwest.
Weather
Very rough or high.
Visibility
Snow at first, then squally sleet and snow showers. Moderate to very poor, occasionally good later. Occasional light icing until later in west.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later in north and 6 in south.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough in south and very high until later in north.
Weather
Occasional rain or drizzle in southeast at first and later in south, otherwise squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good in south and very poor in north.

West Central Section

In north

Wind
Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
High becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Squally sleet and snow showers, snow in west later.
Visibility
Moderate to poor, occasionally very poor, good at times later in east. Occasional light icing until later in northwest.

In south

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south, backing westerly or southwesterly later, decreasing 4 to 6 later in southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later in north.
Weather
Wintry showers, becoming fair later in east, but rain later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.

In area east of 24 west

Wind
Northerly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Snow.
Visibility
Poor or very poor, occasionally moderate. Light or moderate icing with temperatures ms02 to ms04, but severe in the north with temperatures around ms05 or ms06.

In area west of 24 west

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in far west.
Weather
Snow at first in east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.

In area east of 18 west near the ice edge

Wind
Northerly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 throughout, but elsewhere cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and later in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later in far southeast and later in northeast.
Weather
Occasional rain, sleet and snow, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, but good at times in southeast. Light or moderate icing near the ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms04, occasionally severe with temperatures around ms05 or ms06.

Norwegian Basin

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later in east, increasing storm 10 for a time between 04 east and 05 east, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in northwest.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain, then squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in Denmark Strait and north Iceland, with a risk of storms later in West Central Section. Severe gales expected in Shannon. Rockall, East Northern Section and West Northern Section, with gales expected in all other areas.

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.