High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 110000UTC, low 65 north 35 west 1003 expected 76 north 13 west 994 by 120000UTC. Developing Atlantic low moving rather quickly north-northeastwards, expected 60 north 41 west 1000 by same time. High 54 north 18 west 1029 expected 58 north 14 west 1033 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shannon
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- In northwest, variable 2 to 4. in southeast, northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers at first in southeast.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- In southeast, variable 3 or less. in northwest, southwesterly 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight later in southeast.
- Weather
- Showers in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 2 to 4, increasing 5 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
East Northern Section
In far southeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Drizzle at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
West Northern Section
In far northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Drizzle then rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly at first in north, otherwise southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
- Weather
- Drizzle at first in north, then rain later, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Drizzle then rain, fog patches, then fog banks later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later in north.
- Sea state
- Fair, then drizzle or showers in south.
- Weather
- Moderate or good.
- Visibility
West Central Section
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate at first in east, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In east, mainly fair at first then occasional rain later, but in west, rain, thundery at times, and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 71 north
- Wind
- Mainly cyclonic 3 to 5 in west near greenland, but elsewhere southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in southeast.
In area to the north of 71 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in north, otherwise moderate, but occasionally rough in south.
- Weather
- Fog banks until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.
North Iceland
In far northwest
- Wind
- Southerly 4 or 5 becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Drizzle for a time, extensive fog, then fog patches.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, becoming moderate or good occasionally very poor.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 in west and in northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west and in northeast.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in east and southeast, otherwise drizzle at times, fog patches in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north and west and poor in south and east.
Norwegian Basin
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle later in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later in far northwest.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly 5 or 6 in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland.
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.