High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 181200UTC, low 59 north 13 west 999 expected 56 north 08 west with little change by 191200UTC. High 50 north 40 west 1029 expected 51 north 35 west 1030 by same time. Low Iceland 1011 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or northwest 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- West 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in north and west.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northeasterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, but occasionally 4 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly backing northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Northern Section
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in east, and moderate later in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, backing westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight later in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in far southeast.
- Weather
- Fair, then occasional drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far southeast, backing westerly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at first in southeast, otherwise showers, mainly in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.
West Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
In southwest
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then occasional rain and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches except in far northeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor except in far northeast.
North Iceland
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far southeast.
- Weather
- Showers in southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in southeast.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in far southwest, becoming variable 3 or less later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers, occasionally rain later in north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Risk of gales in Rockall.
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.