Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 260000UTC, developing low moving rather quickly east-northeastwards, expected 73 north 11 east 984 by 270000UTC. High 53 north 32 west 1033 expected 62 north 20 west 1046 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind
In southeast, variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5. in northwest, southwesterly veering northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
In southeast, moderate. in northwest, rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
In southeast, drizzle later. in northwest, rain for a time.
Visibility
In southeast, good, occasionally moderate. in northwest, moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind
Southwesterly veering northwesterly, then northerly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

East Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7 becoming northwesterly 3 to 5, then variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Very rough at first in north, otherwise rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Rain at first in far east, otherwise showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

In northwest

Wind
Westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Wintry showers at first in far north.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first in far north.

In southeast

Wind
Variable 3 or less at first in south, otherwise cyclonic becoming easterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

In southwest

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly veering easterly, then southeasterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Fair at first in northwest, otherwise occasional rain or drizzle.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Westerly 6 to gale 8 at first in northeast, otherwise southwesterly 3 to 5 backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate for a time in northwest and high later in southwest.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain or drizzle, turning to sleet or snow for a time in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east and very poor in west.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 for a time in west.
Sea state
Mainly rough or very rough, but becoming high for a time in far west and moderate for a time in far east.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain or drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good in east.

East Central Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 in south and 4 in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough in north, rough or very rough in south.
Weather
Showers in south, perhaps squally or thundery.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in south.

In western half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic becoming easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in north.
Sea state
Mainly rough, but occasionally very rough at first in south and becoming moderate for a time later in north.
Weather
Occasional rain at first, then showers in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

West Central Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5 at first in far east, otherwise southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In western half of the area

Wind
Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far west, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 for a time in far west.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Fair at first in east, otherwise rain, thundery at times.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first in east.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then occasionally 7 again later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate.
Weather
Sleet or snow at first in east and rain or snow later in west, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east, and also later in west. Light or moderate icing at times within 100 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 260000UTC, developing low moving rather quickly east-northeastwards, expected 73 north 11 east 984 by 270000UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 261600UTC and 262300UTC in that part of sea area north Iceland that lies both between 68 north and 73 north and to the east of 09 west.

In western half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow at first.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first. Light or moderate icing to the north of 68 north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing for a time to the north of 70 north, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in north and southwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in south, but becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time, then backing westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in north, then becoming very rough or high for a time.
Weather
Sleet or snow until later in north and rain for a time in south.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north. Light or moderate icing developing to the north of 68 north, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing for a time to the north of 70 north, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering northwesterly later and increasing severe gale 9 at times in northeast.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later except in southwest, then becoming very high later in far northeast.
Weather
Mainly fair, then rain for a time, then sleet or snow showers, squally in north and east.
Visibility
Moderate or good becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor later in north and east.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in West Central Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Southeast Iceland.

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.