Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 211200UTC, low 52 north 11 west 970 expected 60 north 17 west 975 by 221200UTC. New low moving rather quickly east expected 47 north 18 west by same time. New lows expected 55 north 28 west 973 and 62 north 38 west 974 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 decreasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 7 to severe gale 9 backing west 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far southwest.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southeast, 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north and east, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 again later in far southwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers in north and east, squally at first, wintry showers in southwest, squally later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 62 north 38 west 974 by 221200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 north and 69 north in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait throughout, and increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 220200UTC. Westerly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in West Central Section south of 52 north from 212200UTC, and also in East Central Section in area enclosed between 50 and 52 north and west of 24 west from 221200UTC. New low moving rather quickly east expected 47 north 18 west by 221200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre from 220600UTC and violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the centre from 221000UTC, both in the southwestern semicircle.
In area north of 62 north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 in far northwest, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high 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 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in southeast, perhaps storm 10 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at first in far northeast, otherwise occasional sleet and snow showers, becoming squally later in southeast moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 62 north 38 west 974 by 221200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 north and 69 north in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait throughout, and increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 220200UTC. Westerly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in West Central Section south of 52 north from 212200UTC, and also in East Central Section in area enclosed between 50 and 52 north and west of 24 west from 221200UTC. New low moving rather quickly east expected 47 north 18 west by 221200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre from 220600UTC and violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the centre from 221000UTC, both in the southwestern semicircle.
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in west and later in south, occasionally storm 10 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at times, and wintry in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor later in west.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then increasing gale 8 to storm 10 in south and west and also later in northeast, occasionally violent storm 11 later in south, decreasing 7 at times later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, but occasionally very high in far southeast and rough elsewhere.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time, then squally wintry showers in west and also later in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor in west and also later in east.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 62 north 38 west 974 by 221200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 north and 69 north in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait throughout, and increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 220200UTC. Westerly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in West Central Section south of 52 north from 212200UTC, and also in East Central Section in area enclosed between 50 and 52 north and west of 24 west from 221200UTC. New low moving rather quickly east expected 47 north 18 west by 221200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre from 220600UTC and violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the centre from 221000UTC, both in the southwestern semicircle.
In area north of 52 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6 at first in north and east, otherwise 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east and also later in southwest, then decreasing 5 at times later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in south.
- Weather
- Rain or wintry showers at first in east, otherwise squally snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing in far west.
In area south of 52 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise westerly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first in east, otherwise squally snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first in east.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 62 north 38 west 974 by 221200UTC. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 north and 69 north in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait throughout, and increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 220200UTC. Westerly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in West Central Section south of 52 north from 212200UTC, and also in East Central Section in area enclosed between 50 and 52 north and west of 24 west from 221200UTC. New low moving rather quickly east expected 47 north 18 west by 221200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 200 miles of the centre from 220600UTC and violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the centre from 221000UTC, both in the southwestern semicircle.
- Wind
- Northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9 in southeast and severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far west and moderate at first in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet, snow and freezing rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, or freezing drizzle in northwest, 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 and moderate at first in north.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle and fog patches in west, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far northeast and far southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in east and very rough in west.
- Weather
- Showers in far southwest, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in far southwest.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storms expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait with storms in East Central Section and West Central Section. Severe gales expected in Sole, Faeroes and East Northern Section with gales 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.
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