Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 160000UTC, low 49 north 26 west 997 expected 54 north 17 west 993 by 170000UTC. Low 64 north 28 west 989 expected 65 north 33 west 991 by same time. New low expected 66 north 11 west 995 by that time. Low 64 north 13 west 993 moving steadily northwestwards and losing its identity. Low 56 north 27 west 995 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.
Rockall
- Wind
- In south, southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later. in north, southwesterly backing southerly, then becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In south, rain or showers. in north, showers then rain.
- Visibility
- In south, moderate or poor, occasionally good at first. in north, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate later except in southeast.
- Weather
- Thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming southerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate in west and south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 or 6 at first in far northwest, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 or 6 later in south, occasionally 7 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery, then rain in far southeast.
- Visibility
- In far southeast, good, becoming moderate or poor, but elsewhere good occasionally moderate.
West Northern Section
In area to the north of 62 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 2 to 4 in far west.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but slight or moderate in far west.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but sleet or snow in far west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in far west.
In area to the south of 62 north
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in far west.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry in west, then sleet or snow later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor later in far west.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in southeast, then becoming westerly or northwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in far southeast but occasionally moderate in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain until later except in west, perhaps thundery, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in west.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly at first in east, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, decreasing 4 or 5 later in south and west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time in far northeast.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east, perhaps thundery, otherwise squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in east.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing westerly 4 to 6, but becoming variable 3 or less in far south.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at first in far east, otherwise showers, wintry in west and north, but becoming fair in south.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor, but becoming good in south.
Denmark Strait
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, but becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Sleet, snow or freezing rain at times, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good. Light or moderate icing at times to the north of 70 north, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
North Iceland
In far northwest
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor. Light or moderate icing at times, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, but becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
In area to the west of 05 east
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 veering southerly 4 to 6, then backing southeasterly again later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In area to the east of 05 east
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far east but veering southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain for a time in west, otherwise fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in west.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storm force winds expected in West Northern Section. Severe gales expected in West Central Section. Gales expected in north Shannon, Rockall, Bailey, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, East Central Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Risk of gales in Faeroes.
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.