High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 190000UTC, low 62 north 07 west 977 expected 66 north 04 east 979 by 200000UTC. New low expected 65 north 32 west 998 by same time. Low 49 north 58 west 997 expected 52 north 47 west 981 by that time. at 190000UTC, low 62 north 19 west 977 moving steadily eastwards and losing its identity. High 47 north 32 west 1016 dissipating
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough until later in north, otherwise rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or southwest 6 to gale 8, veering west or northwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, becoming rough later in far southwest.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in northwest, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 until later in north, otherwise southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, then veering northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south, then backing southwesterly 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in north, rough or very rough in south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, becoming fair later except in northeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later in north and east.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later, then backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high at first in east, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers then fair, then rain later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in east, then becoming moderate or poor later in southwest.
West Northern Section
In northern half of thre area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in west, then becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south, and later also in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, but becoming fair in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming easterly 4 to 6 later in north and easterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far north, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later, increasing gale 8 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later, becoming thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor later.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, then occasional drizzle, but mainly fair in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Good in far southeast, but elsewhere moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
West Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly 5 or 6 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in far north, then veering southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, becoming thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good becoming moderate or poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, then becoming southwesterly.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, then showers later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west but becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in east.
- Weather
- Rain at times, with occasional sleet near greenland.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at first in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor at first in south, otherwise good.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, backing northwesterly in far southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in northwest and also at first in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, mainly in south, fog patches at first in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south, and also very poor at first in northwest.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in central areas, but mainly 4 to 6 in far northwest, and decreasing 4 or 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first except in southwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in East Central Section and Norwegian Basin.
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.