Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 120000UTC, low 68 north 08 west 956 expected 66 north 14 west 956 by 130000UTC. Low 58 north 23 west 965 and low 58 north 53 west 981 both losing their identities by same time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwest veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- High, occasionally very rough at first in south, and very high later in north.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Rockall
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10.
- Sea state
- High, but very high at times.
- Weather
- Rain or wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 3 to 5 in north, but 7 to severe gale 9 in south, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- High, occasionally very high until later in south and very rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain, then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- In south, southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8. in north, cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- In south, squally, wintry showers. in north, wintry showers.
- Visibility
- In south, moderate or good, occasionally poor. in north, moderate or poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northwest, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south and later in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow at first in northwest, otherwise squally sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8 in northwest, but gale 8 to storm 10 until later in south and east.
- Sea state
- High, occasionally very high until later in south, and very rough in northwest, and later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional snow at first, then squally sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first, and good at times later.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, backing westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east and later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first in north, but gale 8 to storm 10 until later in south and southwest.
- Sea state
- And increasing severe gale 9 at times later in northwest.
- Weather
- Very rough or high.
- Visibility
- Snow at first, then squally sleet and snow showers. Moderate to very poor, occasionally good later. Occasional light icing until later in west.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later in north and 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in south and very high until later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle in southeast at first and later in south, otherwise squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good in south and very poor in north.
West Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- High becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally sleet and snow showers, snow in west later.
- Visibility
- Moderate to poor, occasionally very poor, good at times later in east. Occasional light icing until later in northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south, backing westerly or southwesterly later, decreasing 4 to 6 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later in north.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, becoming fair later in east, but rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.
In area east of 24 west
- Wind
- Northerly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, occasionally gale 8 in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Snow.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, occasionally moderate. Light or moderate icing with temperatures ms02 to ms04, but severe in the north with temperatures around ms05 or ms06.
In area west of 24 west
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in far west.
- Weather
- Snow at first in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east.
North Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.
In area east of 18 west near the ice edge
- Wind
- Northerly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 throughout, but elsewhere cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west and later in north, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later in far southeast and later in northeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet and snow, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, but good at times in southeast. Light or moderate icing near the ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms04, occasionally severe with temperatures around ms05 or ms06.
Norwegian Basin
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 120000UTC, low 58 north 23 west 965 moving eastwards and losing its identity. Westerly or southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the area south of 57 north until 122200UTC in East Northern Section. Westerly or northwesterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times within an area south of 57 north and east of 36 west in West Northern Section until 121600UTC. Northerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 throughout in area enclosed north of 67 north and east of 24 west in Denmark Strait and near the ice north of 67 north in north Iceland. In addition, southerly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in Norwegian Basin between 04 and 05 east from 121400UTC until 121700UTC. Finally low 58 north 53 west 981 moving southeast and losing its identity. Westerly winds will increase storm force 10 in the southern quadrant between 50 to 100 miles from the centre in a small area in the far southwest of West Northern Section between 121400UTC to 121900UTC.
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later in east, increasing storm 10 for a time between 04 east and 05 east, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storms expected in Denmark Strait and north Iceland, with a risk of storms later in West Central Section. Severe gales expected in Shannon. Rockall, East Northern Section and West Northern Section, with gales expected in all other areas.
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.