Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 300000UTC, low 55 north 20 west 958 expected 62 north 18 west with little change by 010000UTC

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northwest, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Storm warning
Issued:

At 300000UTC, low 55 north 20 west 958 expected 62 north 18 west with little change by 010000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle and eastern quadrant both until 302300UTC, and violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern quandrant until 301300UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 between 66 and 71 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period.

Wind
Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, becoming southwest 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming high or very high for a time.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Bailey

Storm warning
Issued:

At 300000UTC, low 55 north 20 west 958 expected 62 north 18 west with little change by 010000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle and eastern quadrant both until 302300UTC, and violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern quandrant until 301300UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 between 66 and 71 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period.

Wind
South or southeast 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 for a time.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming high or very high.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain or squally showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, perhaps storm 10 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later, occasionally very high later.
Weather
Rain or squally showers, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 300000UTC, low 55 north 20 west 958 expected 62 north 18 west with little change by 010000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle and eastern quadrant both until 302300UTC, and violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern quandrant until 301300UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 between 66 and 71 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period.

In northeast

Wind
Easterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far east.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high in far east.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

In south

Wind
Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally 7 in north and violent storm 11 at first in far south, becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high in east.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

In northwest

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far southwest, then decreasing 4 at times.
Sea state
Very rough, occasionally rough at first, then becoming high at times in far northwest and far east.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, squally at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In north

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6 at first in far west, otherwise 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later, then decreasing 5 at times later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first in far west, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather
Mainly fair at first in west, otherwise rain at times.
Visibility
Good at first in west, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southeast

Wind
Northwesterly backing westerly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state
Very rough occasionally high.
Weather
Occasional rain in far northeast, otherwise squally showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In southwest

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in west, otherwise northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast and later elsewhere, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

East Central Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 300000UTC, low 55 north 20 west 958 expected 62 north 18 west with little change by 010000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle and eastern quadrant both until 302300UTC, and violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern quandrant until 301300UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 between 66 and 71 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic mainly westerly, gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in north, becoming westerly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
High or very high, becoming very rough later.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally good later.

In south

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state
Very rough, occasionally high until later in north.
Weather
Squally showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind
Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in far northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic in south, 5 to 7, decreasing 4 at times later.
Sea state
Very rough or high at first in far northeast, otherwise rough, occasionally very rough in north and east.
Weather
Showers, then occasional rain, mainly fair later in north.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate or poor later in south.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning
Issued:

At 300000UTC, low 55 north 20 west 958 expected 62 north 18 west with little change by 010000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle and eastern quadrant both until 302300UTC, and violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern quandrant until 301300UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 between 66 and 71 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period.

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 between 66 and 71 north.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first, then becoming very high at times in south.
Weather
Occasional rain, sleet, snow and freezing rain.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor. Light icing in far north with temperatures around ms02.

North Iceland

Storm warning
Issued:

At 300000UTC, low 55 north 20 west 958 expected 62 north 18 west with little change by 010000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle and eastern quadrant both until 302300UTC, and violent storm force 11 between 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southwestern quandrant until 301300UTC. Northeasterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 between 66 and 71 north in Denmark Strait throughout the period.

In southeastern half of area

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times in southeast, then increasing 7 or gale 8 later in south, occasionally severe gale 9 later near Iceland coast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in south.
Weather
Occasional rain and fog patches, becoming mainly fair later in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In northwestern half of area

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 in southeast, otherwise in northwest northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far west, perhaps storm 10 later in far northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in west.
Weather
Rain and fog patches in southeast, but sleet, snow and freezing rain in northwest.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor. Light icing in far northwest with temperatures around ms02, occasionally moderate later with temperatures ms03 to ms05.

Norwegian Basin

In area east of 05 east

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough at times in west.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

In area west of 05 east

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later in far south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
Weather
Fair then occasional rain, fog patches later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Storms expected in Denmark Strait with severe gales in north Iceland. Gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section and West Northern Section with a risk of gales West Central Section.

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.

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