Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 291200UTC, low 56 north 42 west 977 expected 58 north 35 west 956 by 301200UTC. New high expected 68 north 03 west 1013 by same time. Low 60 north 18 west 1005 losing its identity.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, backing southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6, backing south 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southeast 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 291200UTC, low 56 north 42 west 977 expected 58 north 35 west 956 by 301200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the southeastern quadrant between 50 and 200 miles from the centre throughout. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the northwestern semicircle between 50 and 300 miles until 300300UTC, then between 100 and 450 miles. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 after 301200UTC in East Northern Section, within 50 miles from Icelandic coast.
In northeast
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
In west
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in north, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 291200UTC, low 56 north 42 west 977 expected 58 north 35 west 956 by 301200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the southeastern quadrant between 50 and 200 miles from the centre throughout. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the northwestern semicircle between 50 and 300 miles until 300300UTC, then between 100 and 450 miles. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 after 301200UTC in East Northern Section, within 50 miles from Icelandic coast.
In northern one third of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming easterly or northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers, then rain or sleet for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing in far northwest.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in northeast, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high.
- Weather
- Rain at first in north and later in west, otherwise squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5 at first in east, otherwise southerly veering southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Fair at first in east, otherwise rain at times, showers later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 291200UTC, low 56 north 42 west 977 expected 58 north 35 west 956 by 301200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the southeastern quadrant between 50 and 200 miles from the centre throughout. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the northwestern semicircle between 50 and 300 miles until 300300UTC, then between 100 and 450 miles. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 after 301200UTC in East Northern Section, within 50 miles from Icelandic coast.
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in southeast and severe gale 9 in northwest, veering westerly 7 to severe gale 9 later, occasionally storm 10 in far north.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in southeast, otherwise very rough or high, occasionally very high later in far north.
- Weather
- Rain, perhaps thundery at times, until later in southeast, otherwise squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 291200UTC, low 56 north 42 west 977 expected 58 north 35 west 956 by 301200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the southeastern quadrant between 50 and 200 miles from the centre throughout. Winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the northwestern semicircle between 50 and 300 miles until 300300UTC, then between 100 and 450 miles. In addition, easterly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 after 301200UTC in East Northern Section, within 50 miles from Icelandic coast.
In southwest
- Wind
- Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Occasional snow, then rain, sleet or snow later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 100 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
In northeast
- Wind
- Easterly 4 to 6, backing northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, then very rough in southwest.
- Weather
- Snow showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing developing later in west within 50 miles from the ice edge, with temperatures ms03 to ms05.
North Iceland
In southwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in north.
- Weather
- Snow showers, becoming fair for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
In northeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, backing westerly 4 to 6 in north, but becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeast 4 to 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor at first. Light icing at first in east with temperatures ms02 to ms05, becoming moderate or severe in northeast, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms are expected in Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Severe gales are expected in Bailey, Faeroes, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales are expected in Sole, Shannon and Rockall.
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.