High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 301200UTC, low 47 north 43 west 1005 expected 49 north 30 west 1007 by 311200UTC. Low 76 north 06 west 995 expected 73 north 06 west 1000 by same time. Low 62 north 28 west 1002 expected 62 north 25 west 1001 by that time. at 301200UTC, low 57 north 13 west 1002 expected 61 north 07 west with little change by 311200UTC. Low 53 north 10 west 1000 expected 55 north 06 east 1003 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 veering northwesterly 4 to 6, backing westerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwest, backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwest, backing southwest later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or less for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first in south and slight at first in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- East or northeast 3 to 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in south, slight throughout in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming easterly or northeasterly in far north, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 except in far north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, and also occasional rain in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in north and poor in south.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first in north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in far northwest, and later also in far southeast, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in north, moderate throughout in south.
- Weather
- Rain at times in south, perhaps thundery in southwest, rain or showers in northeast, mainly fair in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.
East Central Section
In northeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 3 in south, increasing 6 at times later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in east, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, and also occasional rain in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In southwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in east, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Showers then rain, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far south, then becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 or 4 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Thundery rain at times, mainly at first in east, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers in south, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 5 or 6 for a time.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 69 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 in far east and southeast, and also in southwest, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, then sleet or snow for a time later in far north and northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor later in far north.
In area to the south of 69 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5 later in south and west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair at first except in far south, otherwise occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly becoming cyclonic 2 to 4, then increasing 4 to 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate, but then becoming poor at times later in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in West Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Faeroes and north Iceland. Risk of gales later in western parts of East 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.