High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 160000UTC, low 62 north 35 west 985 is expected 61 north 18 west 976 by 170000UTC. Low 61 north 05 east 994 losing its identity by same time. New low expected 64 north 15 west 980 by that time. at 160000UTC, high 45 north 28 west 1040 expected 43 north 27 west 1035 by 170000UTC.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing westerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 7 later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate, becoming rough or very rough later, then becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- South or southwest, veering west later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate at first, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or thundery showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 160000UTC, low 62 north 35 west 985 is expected 61 north 18 west 976 by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southwestern quadrant between 80 and 200 miles of the centre from 161600UTC until 170300UTC.
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly veering west or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm force 10 for a time, also becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6 for a time in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east, then becoming mainly very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, mainly in north later.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In northwest of area
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, then becoming variable 4 or less later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south and east.
- Weather
- Rain or showers at first.
- Visibility
- Then mainly fair, but showers in south later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
In northeast of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high at times.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, occasional drizzle later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southwesterly 6 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, then mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
East Central Section
In north in area
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor at first.
In south in area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
West Central Section
In north of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, mainly later in west, fog patches later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in west.
In south of area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less for a time, occasionally 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in west.
Denmark Strait
In area north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and fog patches later, good, occasionally very poor later.
- Visibility
In rest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
North Iceland
In north of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In south of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south until later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
- Visibility
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less, then becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Risk of severe gales in Rockall, Bailey and East Northern Section. Gales expected in West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Risk of gales in Faeroes and Southeast 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.