Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 270000UTC, low 52 north 32 west 956 expected 51 north 21 west 965 by 280000UTC. Low 49 north 13 west 963 expected 56 north 14 west with little change by same time. New low expected 56 north 19 west 963 by that time. High 71 north 25 west 1030 dissipating

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 270000UTC, low 52 north 32 west 956 expected 51 north 21 west 965 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 200 and 300 miles from the centre in the south quadrant until 271000UTC. Low 49 north 13 west 963 expected 56 north 14 west with little change by same time. Cyclonically variable winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the eastern half of Sole until 271100UTC. Also, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast corner of Shannon until 271200UTC. In addition, easterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in Bailey after 271600UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times within 50 miles of the Icelandic coast between 19 west and 22 west in East Northern Section until 270900UTC.

Wind
Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 becoming southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state
High or very high at first in east, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Shannon

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 270000UTC, low 52 north 32 west 956 expected 51 north 21 west 965 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 200 and 300 miles from the centre in the south quadrant until 271000UTC. Low 49 north 13 west 963 expected 56 north 14 west with little change by same time. Cyclonically variable winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the eastern half of Sole until 271100UTC. Also, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast corner of Shannon until 271200UTC. In addition, easterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in Bailey after 271600UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times within 50 miles of the Icelandic coast between 19 west and 22 west in East Northern Section until 270900UTC.

Wind
Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first, becoming south 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain then thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Bailey

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 270000UTC, low 52 north 32 west 956 expected 51 north 21 west 965 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 200 and 300 miles from the centre in the south quadrant until 271000UTC. Low 49 north 13 west 963 expected 56 north 14 west with little change by same time. Cyclonically variable winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the eastern half of Sole until 271100UTC. Also, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast corner of Shannon until 271200UTC. In addition, easterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in Bailey after 271600UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times within 50 miles of the Icelandic coast between 19 west and 22 west in East Northern Section until 270900UTC.

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first, then increasing storm 10 at times.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 270000UTC, low 52 north 32 west 956 expected 51 north 21 west 965 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 200 and 300 miles from the centre in the south quadrant until 271000UTC. Low 49 north 13 west 963 expected 56 north 14 west with little change by same time. Cyclonically variable winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the eastern half of Sole until 271100UTC. Also, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast corner of Shannon until 271200UTC. In addition, easterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in Bailey after 271600UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times within 50 miles of the Icelandic coast between 19 west and 22 west in East Northern Section until 270900UTC.

In north

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first within 50 miles of the greenland coast in east.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain at times, and also occasional sleet at first.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic mainly northeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northeast.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery at times.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

In northwest

Wind
Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain, sleet or snow.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in far northwest.

In southeast

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first except in far north, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or sleet at times, perhaps thundery in south.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 270000UTC, low 52 north 32 west 956 expected 51 north 21 west 965 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 200 and 300 miles from the centre in the south quadrant until 271000UTC. Low 49 north 13 west 963 expected 56 north 14 west with little change by same time. Cyclonically variable winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the eastern half of Sole until 271100UTC. Also, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast corner of Shannon until 271200UTC. In addition, easterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in Bailey after 271600UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times within 50 miles of the Icelandic coast between 19 west and 22 west in East Northern Section until 270900UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic mainly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times, but occasionally gale 8 at first in far northeast, and also later in west and south.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or showers, thundery or wintry at times.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

In south

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in far west and 6 at first in east, then decreasing 4 to 6 later in west.
Sea state
Mainly high or very high, but very rough at first in east and later in west.
Weather
Squally thundery showers.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally moderate.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 270000UTC, low 52 north 32 west 956 expected 51 north 21 west 965 by 280000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 200 and 300 miles from the centre in the south quadrant until 271000UTC. Low 49 north 13 west 963 expected 56 north 14 west with little change by same time. Cyclonically variable winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the eastern half of Sole until 271100UTC. Also, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast corner of Shannon until 271200UTC. In addition, easterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times in Bailey after 271600UTC. Finally, northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times within 50 miles of the Icelandic coast between 19 west and 22 west in East Northern Section until 270900UTC.

In south

Wind
Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in east, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then becoming westerly 7 to severe gale 9 again later in southwest.
Sea state
Very high, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally moderate later.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in southeast, becoming northerly 4 to 6, then backing northwesterly later in northeast but veering easterly later in southwest.
Sea state
High becoming very rough.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery or wintry at times, but becoming mainly fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 later in east.
Sea state
Mainly very rough or high, but rough or very rough in far east.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in east. Light or moderate icing within 100 miles of the greenland coast, mainly near the ice, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but locally severe icing near the ice between 22 west and 28 west, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

North Iceland

Wind
Mainly northerly or northeasterly, but easterly in south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west and far south, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in northeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far southeast.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in far west between 68 north and 70 north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southeasterly at first in west, otherwise easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, but becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force winds expected in West Central Section. Storm force winds expected in East Northern Section and East Central Section. Severe gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland and West Northern Section. Gales expected in Sole, Rockall and Denmark Strait. Risk of gales in Shannon.

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.