Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 251200UTC, low 63 north 01 east 980 expected 65 north 05 east with little change by 261200UTC. New low expected 61 north 33 west 1004 by same time. Low 61 north 24 west 1001 moving rather quickly east-southeastwards and losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

Bailey

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in south.

Faeroes

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
In northeast, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. in southwest, cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
In northeast, rough or very rough. in southwest, moderate or rough.
Weather
In northeast, occasional rain. in southwest, showers.
Visibility
In northeast, moderate or good. in southwest, good.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Iceland, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate.
Weather
Rain at times in south.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in south.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally very rough at first in southeast, becoming moderate later in west.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Mainly moderate, but slight in far northwest.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches in northwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later in west, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times, fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor or very poor for a time.

East Central Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 in west, and later also in east.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate in west.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain or drizzle at times, mainly in west, fog patches developing in west.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west, and later also in east.
Sea state
Rough until later in far northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle at times, fog patches in northwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.

West Central Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in far north.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Drizzle or showers at times, perhaps thundery, fog patches in west and north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west and north.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 4 or 5 for a time at first between 67 north and 69 north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

In northwestern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In southeastern half of the area

Wind
Mainly northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but northwesterly 6 to gale 8 in far southeast.
Sea state
Mainly moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in far southeast.
Weather
Rain at times, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor at first in north.

Norwegian Basin

In western half of the area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, and later also in west and southwest.
Sea state
Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far north.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 until later in far north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first near norway, then decreasing 4 or 5 later in south.
Sea state
Moderate at first in far northeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Gales expected in Norwegian Basin. Risk of gales in northeast Faeroes and eastern 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.

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