High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 061200UTC, low 60 north 20 west 1001 expected 59 north 12 west 999 by 071200UTC. Low 50 north 28 west 1013 expected 47 north 25 west 1006 by same time. Low 68 north 11 east 1007 expected 69 north 10 east 1010 by that time. at 061200UTC, high 65 north 34 west 1034 expected 64 north 44 west 1029 by 071200UTC. High 56 north 00 east 1017 expected 61 north 07 east 1018 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in south, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Poor becoming moderate, occasionally good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor occasionally good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In area to the north of 59 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east, backing northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or sleet then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far east.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
West Northern Section
In far northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later in far southwest.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, veering northerly later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south and 3 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Denmark Strait
In area within 100 miles of the greenland coast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming westerly 4 or 5 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
North Iceland
In far northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches developing.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers, sleet later in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming 3 to 5, becoming easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Wintry showers then fair, rain or sleet later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor later in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales or severe gales expected in Rockall, Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.
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.