Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 051200UTC, low 49 north 33 west 960 expected 58 north 27 west 962 by 061200UTC. Low 68 north 09 east 981 expected 67 north 06 east 997 by same time. Lows 62 north 12 west 988 and 59 north 39 west 992 both losing their identities
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in west.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Westerly at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in west.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- West 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then southeast 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in far west.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in south, then becoming southeasterly 7 or gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 051200UTC, low 49 north 33 west 960 expected 58 north 27 west 962 by 061200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061600UTC, and between 100 and 350 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle and north quadrant throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest semicircle until 061000UTC. Also, easterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061700UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 061100UTC, these storm force winds then extending eastwards as far as 26 west by 062000UTC.
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6, veering southeasterly gale 8 to storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in southwest.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 051200UTC, low 49 north 33 west 960 expected 58 north 27 west 962 by 061200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061600UTC, and between 100 and 350 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle and north quadrant throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest semicircle until 061000UTC. Also, easterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061700UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 061100UTC, these storm force winds then extending eastwards as far as 26 west by 062000UTC.
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming easterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 later in north, then veering southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high, then becoming very high later in southeast.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then rain or sleet later, with snow at times later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor becoming moderate or poor, then occasionally very poor later in northwest.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in north.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 051200UTC, low 49 north 33 west 960 expected 58 north 27 west 962 by 061200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061600UTC, and between 100 and 350 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle and north quadrant throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest semicircle until 061000UTC. Also, easterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061700UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 061100UTC, these storm force winds then extending eastwards as far as 26 west by 062000UTC.
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Easterly 3 to 5 at first except in far northwest, otherwise northeasterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers then rain or snow.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally very poor becoming moderate to very poor. Light or moderate icing in far northwest.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in north and west, otherwise northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in east, then becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in east.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers in west, rain or snow in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first in north and west.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 051200UTC, low 49 north 33 west 960 expected 58 north 27 west 962 by 061200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061600UTC, and between 100 and 350 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle and north quadrant throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest semicircle until 061000UTC. Also, easterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061700UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 061100UTC, these storm force winds then extending eastwards as far as 26 west by 062000UTC.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first except in far southeast, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally wintry showers in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in north, decreasing 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in far north, otherwise high or very high.
- Weather
- Rain at first in north, otherwise squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 051200UTC, low 49 north 33 west 960 expected 58 north 27 west 962 by 061200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061600UTC, and between 100 and 350 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle and north quadrant throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest semicircle until 061000UTC. Also, easterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061700UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 061100UTC, these storm force winds then extending eastwards as far as 26 west by 062000UTC.
In northeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 until later, then backing westerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or snow, then squally wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, occasionally moderate.
In southwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later, then increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Very high at first in east, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers, squally and occasionally thundery at first, then rain or snow later in far west.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 051200UTC, low 49 north 33 west 960 expected 58 north 27 west 962 by 061200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles from the centre in the southwest and west quadrants until 061600UTC, and between 100 and 350 miles from the centre in the eastern semicircle and north quadrant throughout the period. Winds will also reach violent storm force 11 between 50 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest semicircle until 061000UTC. Also, easterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 at times between 061000UTC and 061700UTC in that part of East Northern Section that lies between 20 west and 24 west and within 100 miles of the Icelandic coast. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 to the west of 34 west in Denmark Strait after 061100UTC, these storm force winds then extending eastwards as far as 26 west by 062000UTC.
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6 until later in east, otherwise 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later to the west of 26 west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers, then rain, sleet or snow later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing, mainly near the ice, with temperatures ms02 to ms04, but becoming severe at times later near the ice to the south of 68 north, with temperatures ms04 or ms05.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 to 7 at first in far southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Mainly slight or moderate, but moderate or rough in far southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers in east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor in east.
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly northerly 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise northeasterly 3 to 5, veering easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in west and south.
- Weather
- Snow showers, mainly in east, then rain or sleet later in far south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in east.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in south, and increasing 6 to gale 8 later in northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south and west, but then becoming southeasterly 5 or 6 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough until later in far northeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or wintry showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in Denmark Strait, but with a risk of hurricane force winds near the ice. Storm force winds expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section and north Iceland. Severe gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland and West Central Section. Gales expected in Sole, Rockall, Bailey, East Central Section 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.