High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Low 58 north 22 west 983 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southeast 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain and fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate to very poor later.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then increasing storm 10 at times later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in southeast.
- Weather
- Showers at first in west, otherwise rain.
- Visibility
- Good at first in west, otherwise moderate or poor.
West Northern Section
In area east of 35 west
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, increasing severe gale 9 at times later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers, becoming fair later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In area west of 35 west
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in west and 7 in east.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in west and very rough later in east.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in far northwest.
East Central Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in northeast, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, then increasing storm 10 at times later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in far north.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far north.
- Weather
- Rain at first in far northeast, otherwise squally thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, backing westerly 4 to 6 in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in west.
- Weather
- Squally showers, perhaps thundery at first in east, becoming mainly fair in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in east.
Denmark Strait
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 290000UTC, low 44 north 18 west 986 expected 55 north 20 west 960 by 300000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant from 291000UTC until 291600UTC. Winds are then expected to reach storm force 10 from 292100UTC between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quandrant and between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southern and western quadrants. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 67 and 70 north in Denmark Strait from 292100UTC.
- Wind
- Variable 3 or 4 at first in north, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 except near Iceland coast and near the greenland coast in west, occasionally storm 10 later between 67 and 70 north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then occasional rain, sleet, snow and freezing rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate to very poor. Occasional light icing later in far north with temperatures around ms02.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, mainly easterly, 6 to gale 8 in south and also later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far southwest.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then rain or sleet in south, and rain and snow later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and very poor later in north.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor in southeast.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, backing southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate in east, occasionally very rough later in west.
- Weather
- Fair, then drizzle later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storms expected in Denmark Strait with storms in Rockall, Bailey, East Northern Section and East Central Section and a risk of storms in Southeast Iceland. Severe gales expected in Faeroes, West Northern Section and north Iceland with gales in Shannon, West 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.
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