Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 220000UTC, low 57 north 11 west 976, low 60 north 27 west 976 and low 58 north 48 west 977 all losing identity by 230000UTC. New lows expected 47 north 10 west 960, 57 north 30 west 980 and 62 north 52 west 978 by same time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming mainly rough, occasionally moderate in north and very rough in southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- In southwest, northwest 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times. in northeast, easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 at times.
- Sea state
- In southwest, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far south and moderate later. in northeast, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In southwest, rain. in northeast, rain or showers.
- Visibility
- In southwest, good, occasionally poor. in northeast, good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north and east, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in east.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and later, but increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in southwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers in north and east, squally at first, wintry showers in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 north and 69 north until 230400UTC in West Northern Section and throughout the period in Denmark Strait, and increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 221900UTC until 230300UTC close to the ice edge in the Denmark Strait. New low 57 north 30 west 980 by 230000UTC, initially moving quickly north and then becoming slow moving and filling. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast corner of West Northern Section, south of 59 north and east of 29 west between 221600UTC and 222100UTC. New low moving quickly east expected 47 north 10 west 960 by 230000UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 south of 46 north in East Central Section until 230100UTC, and are expected to increase violent storm force 11 at times in southeast corner of East Central Section, south of 47 north and east of 17 west between 221300UTC and 222100UTC. And finally, westerly or northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in West Central Section, between 52 north and 47 north from 221700UTC until 230400UTC.
In area north of 62 north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 or storm 10 in far northwest, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high until later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain, but sleet and snow in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far northwest and poor elsewhere.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first and later, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 for a time in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 north and 69 north until 230400UTC in West Northern Section and throughout the period in Denmark Strait, and increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 221900UTC until 230300UTC close to the ice edge in the Denmark Strait. New low 57 north 30 west 980 by 230000UTC, initially moving quickly north and then becoming slow moving and filling. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast corner of West Northern Section, south of 59 north and east of 29 west between 221600UTC and 222100UTC. New low moving quickly east expected 47 north 10 west 960 by 230000UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 south of 46 north in East Central Section until 230100UTC, and are expected to increase violent storm force 11 at times in southeast corner of East Central Section, south of 47 north and east of 17 west between 221300UTC and 222100UTC. And finally, westerly or northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in West Central Section, between 52 north and 47 north from 221700UTC until 230400UTC.
In north of area
- Wind
- Mainly westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6 in northeast, otherwise cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers, wintry in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly, 4 or 5 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in south, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 for a time in far southeast, becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first, but occasionally very high for a time in southeast.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, thundery rain at times in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, good at times later.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 north and 69 north until 230400UTC in West Northern Section and throughout the period in Denmark Strait, and increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 221900UTC until 230300UTC close to the ice edge in the Denmark Strait. New low 57 north 30 west 980 by 230000UTC, initially moving quickly north and then becoming slow moving and filling. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast corner of West Northern Section, south of 59 north and east of 29 west between 221600UTC and 222100UTC. New low moving quickly east expected 47 north 10 west 960 by 230000UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 south of 46 north in East Central Section until 230100UTC, and are expected to increase violent storm force 11 at times in southeast corner of East Central Section, south of 47 north and east of 17 west between 221300UTC and 222100UTC. And finally, westerly or northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in West Central Section, between 52 north and 47 north from 221700UTC until 230400UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming mainly westerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time later in west and south, decreasing 4 or 5 later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first in northeast, and very high at times later in south.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, good at times later.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 north and 69 north until 230400UTC in West Northern Section and throughout the period in Denmark Strait, and increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 221900UTC until 230300UTC close to the ice edge in the Denmark Strait. New low 57 north 30 west 980 by 230000UTC, initially moving quickly north and then becoming slow moving and filling. Northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the southeast corner of West Northern Section, south of 59 north and east of 29 west between 221600UTC and 222100UTC. New low moving quickly east expected 47 north 10 west 960 by 230000UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 south of 46 north in East Central Section until 230100UTC, and are expected to increase violent storm force 11 at times in southeast corner of East Central Section, south of 47 north and east of 17 west between 221300UTC and 222100UTC. And finally, westerly or northwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 in West Central Section, between 52 north and 47 north from 221700UTC until 230400UTC.
- Wind
- Northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9, but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 in west close to ice edge.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far southwest and moderate in northeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet, snow and freezing rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, good at times in east.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in far north, elsewhere cyclonic mainly east 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In south
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south and west.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times in north.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in east and very rough in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for following 24 hours
There is a risk of violent storms in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait, with storms in East Central Section. Gales or severe gales are expected all other areas, except north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.
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.