High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 231200UTC, low 72 north 15 west 992 expected 69 north 07 west 987 by 241200UTC. High 45 north 35 west 1035 expected 42 north 34 west 1033 by same time. Low 66 north 29 west 995 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northeasterly, backing northerly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- North or northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- West or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in far north and later elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in north.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, then northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north and increasing 7 at times in south.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in north.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times until later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in south and very rough in north.
- Weather
- Fair then rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far south and 3 in far north, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in north and east, otherwise rain or drizzle at times, fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Good, at first in north and east, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In south
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Fair at first in southeast, otherwise rain or drizzle with fog banks.
- Visibility
- Good at first in southeast, otherwise moderate to very poor.
East Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 5 or 6 in northwest then later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers at first in southeast, otherwise mainly fair, then rain or drizzle later in north and west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first in southeast, becoming moderate or poor later in north and west.
In south
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in southwest, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
West Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first, then becoming rough at times in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches, becoming fog banks in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first.
In south
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 or 5 in far north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later in northwest.
Denmark Strait
In area north of 70 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In area south of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south and then later in east.
- Weather
- Fog patches mainly in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor mainly in north and west.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west and also later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times with fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times in far northeast and far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times with fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times in east, occasionally 3 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.
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.