High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 261200UTC, low 66 north 05 east 980 slow-moving, filling 986 by 271200UTC. Low 63 north 34 west 1002 expected 60 north 23 west 1004 by same time. New low expected 44 north 46 west 1009 by that time. New high expected 47 north 10 west 1024 by 271200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest 4 to 6 backing west or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Bailey
- Wind
- In south, northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5. in north, variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In south, rough, becoming moderate later. in north, rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- In south, showers. in north, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- In south, good, occasionally moderate. in north, good, occasionally moderate later.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in far east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6 in east but variable 2 to 4 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in east, slight or moderate in west.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 in northwest, and then cyclonic 3 to 5 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight later near iceland.
- Weather
- Mainly fair in far north but occasional rain in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in south.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in east, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In far northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, veering northerly later except in far southeast, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, becoming fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming good later in west.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly northeasterly, backing northerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at first in southeast, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor until later in southeast.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in east, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle at times, then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair at first in east, otherwise rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate in northeast, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at times in central and southern areas, fog patches in west and north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west and north.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5 for a time in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first except in far northwest, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but becoming variable 3 or less later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly in far southeast, but elsewhere northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 in far north and far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Norwegian Basin
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in far north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 near the coast.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough for a time in south and moderate in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected at first in eastern Norwegian Basin, mainly near the coast. Risk of gales later in Bailey, Faeroes and eastern parts of East Northern Section.
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.