High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 231200UTC, low 51 north, 38 west 1002 expected 58 north 15 west 947 by 241200UTC. Low 65 north 37 west 994 losing its identity by same time. Low 58 north 43 west 994 losing its identity by that time. Low 73 north 11 west 992 expected 74 north 08 west 995 by 241200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Shannon
- Wind
- West backing southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, veering west later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming high or very high later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 231200UTC, low 51 north, 38 west 1002 expected 58 north 15 west 947 by 241200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 within 50 and 100 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 240400UTC until 240900UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 to 250 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 240900UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 50 to 150 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 240900UTC until 241800UTC. In Denmark Strait and north Iceland, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in an area west of 13 west and north of 72 north until 240300UTC.
- Wind
- West backing southwest 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic gale 9 to violent storm 11 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming high or very high later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- South or southwest 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming east or northeast 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming east or northeast 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 231200UTC, low 51 north, 38 west 1002 expected 58 north 15 west 947 by 241200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 within 50 and 100 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 240400UTC until 240900UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 to 250 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 240900UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 50 to 150 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 240900UTC until 241800UTC. In Denmark Strait and north Iceland, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in an area west of 13 west and north of 72 north until 240300UTC.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5, backing northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southeast.
- Weather
- Showers and occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11, then northwest gale 8 to storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first, rain later in far southwest.
- Visibility
- Rain, showers later. Moderate or poor, becoming good later.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly, backing northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south, becoming northwesterly 5 to 7, backing westerly later, occasionally gale 8 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Central Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 231200UTC, low 51 north, 38 west 1002 expected 58 north 15 west 947 by 241200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 within 50 and 100 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 240400UTC until 240900UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 to 250 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 240900UTC. Winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 50 to 150 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant from 240900UTC until 241800UTC. In Denmark Strait and north Iceland, northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in an area west of 13 west and north of 72 north until 240300UTC.
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west, veering westerly gale 8 to severe storm 10 in north, veering northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in far northeast.
- Weather
- Rain at times, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
- Visibility
West Central Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, becoming westerly 4 or 5 later in far north and variable 2 to 4 later in central areas.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers in north and rain at times in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 69 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Slight to moderate icing with temperatures of ms 03 or ms 04 in north.
In area to the north of 69 north
- Wind
- Northerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers in south, occasional sleet or snow in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Severe or very severe icing with temperatures of ms 05 to ms 09.
North Iceland
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Snow in west, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- In west, moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, otherwise good.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, but very rough at first in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
- Visibility
Norwegian Basin
In east of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain later in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later in south.
In west of area
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 to 6, backing easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storm 11 expected Rockall, storm 10 expected Bailey with a risk storm 10 in Faeroes and Fair Isle. Severe gales expected in Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales are expected in Denmark Strait and north Iceland with a risk of gales in West Northern 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.