Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 080000UTC, low 60 north 08 west 980 expected 56 north 02 east 998 by 090000UTC. Low 51 north 49 west 998 expected 58 north 40 west 995 by same time. New low expected 71 north 16 west 989 by that time. at 080000UTC, high 48 north 27 west 1026 expected 46 north 18 west 1027 by 090000UTC. Low 48 north 10 west 1011 moving rather quickly east-northeastwards and losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Rockall

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Bailey

Wind
West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, becoming northerly 4 to 6, backing westerly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, squally at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northerly 6 to gale 8 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough at first in east, otherwise rough becoming moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

East Northern Section

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise northwesterly backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then backing southerly 6 or 7 later in southwest.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later in southwest.
Visibility
Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate or poor later in southwest.

West Northern Section

In area to the north of 61 north

Wind
Southwesterly, veering northwesterly in northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far northwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain later in south and east.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in south and east.

In area to the south of 61 north

Wind
Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain and fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good becoming moderate to very poor.

East Central Section

Wind
Northwesterly 5 or 6 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later in west.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers at first in northeast, otherwise fair, then thundery rain in west, fog patches later in far northwest.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor later in west, then occasionally very poor later in far northwest.

West Central Section

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5 at first in far northeast, otherwise southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast, and also later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Fair at first in northeast, otherwise thundery rain and fog banks, then showers later in west.
Visibility
Good at first in northeast, otherwise moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good later in west.

Denmark Strait

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 near greenland.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Drizzle at times later, fog patches later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state
Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

North Iceland

In northwest

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough later.
Weather
Fair then sleet or snow at times, mainly later in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.

In northeast

Wind
Southerly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight becoming moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at first in far southeast, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first in far southeast.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far southwest.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery at first, becoming fair later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, East Northern Section, East Central Section and 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.

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