Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Low 66 north 05 east 965 losing its identity by same time. New low expected 66 north 19 east 974 by that time. at 250000UTC, high 64 north 45 west 1029 expected 73 north 36 west 1025 by 260000UTC. High 46 north 24 west 1034 expected 46 north 14 west 1034 by same time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- High, becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing west 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- High, becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- North or northwest 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4, then south or southeast 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or hig.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- In west, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 later. in east, easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, veering southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- In west, very rough or high. in east, very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- In west, squally wintry showers. in east, wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast quadrant and later the southern quadrant between 200 and 350 miles of the centre from 252300UTC. And winds are also expected reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in northwest quadrant between 100 and 350 miles of the centre from 260300UTC. Finally winds are expected increase storm force 10 at times in the northwest corner of East Northern Section from 260400UTC.
In area north of 61 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in north, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate or poor later.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic mainly southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough, but high or very high later in west.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, mainly in east at first, then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast quadrant and later the southern quadrant between 200 and 350 miles of the centre from 252300UTC. And winds are also expected reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in northwest quadrant between 100 and 350 miles of the centre from 260300UTC. Finally winds are expected increase storm force 10 at times in the northwest corner of East Northern Section from 260400UTC.
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 at first, except in far southwest, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in south and northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in northwest, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in southwest.
- Weather
- Mainly fair in north at first, otherwise rain or sleet, snow later in north, wintry showers later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, but very poor at times later in north, occasionally good at first. Light or moderate icing in the far northwest, and occasional severe or very severe icing later.
East Central Section
In north of area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Fair at first in east, otherwise rain and drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first, and moderate later in south.
- Weather
- Fair until later in east, otherwise rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast quadrant and later the southern quadrant between 200 and 350 miles of the centre from 252300UTC. And winds are also expected reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in northwest quadrant between 100 and 350 miles of the centre from 260300UTC. Finally winds are expected increase storm force 10 at times in the northwest corner of East Northern Section from 260400UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly southerly or southeasterly, 4 to 6 at first in east and later in south, otherwise 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 or storm 10 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high or very high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle and fog patches for a time, squally showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor for a time.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 250000UTC, low 49 north 52 west 988 expected 57 north 43 west 968 by 260000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southeast quadrant and later the southern quadrant between 200 and 350 miles of the centre from 252300UTC. And winds are also expected reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in northwest quadrant between 100 and 350 miles of the centre from 260300UTC. Finally winds are expected increase storm force 10 at times in the northwest corner of East Northern Section from 260400UTC.
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic mainly northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Fair at first, but sleet and snow later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally good, at first and very poor at times later. Light or moderate icing later with temperatures ms03 to ms05, but severe or very severe icing in southwest near ice edge later with temperatures ms05 to ms08.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, decreasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, but very rough or high in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate, occasionally poor or very poor, good at times later. Light or moderate icing with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing until later in west and northwest, close to the ice, with temperatures ms07 to ms10.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Hurricane force winds are expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Violent storms are expected in East Northern Section and storm force winds in West Central Section. Severe gales are expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin with gales in Rockall, Faeroes and East Central Section.
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.