Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 260000UTC, developing low 46 north 41 west 996 expected 55 north 29 west 967 by 270000UTC. Low 65 north 11 west 995 expected 68 north 01 west 973 by same time. Low 63 north 36 west 989 losing its identity by that time. at 260000UTC high 42 north 15 west 1029 expected 40 north 15 west 1027 by 270000UTC.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, but cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in north, increasing 7 or gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northwest 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- In east, southwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6. in west, cyclonic 3 or 4, becoming easterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- In east, moderate or rough. in west, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In east, rain. in west, rain then showers.
- Visibility
- In east, good, occasionally poor. in west, good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 or 4, becoming easterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 260000UTC, developing low 47 north 41 west 996 expected 54 north 29 west 967 by 270000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southern semicircle from 260600UTC. Westerly winds also occasionally reaching violent storm force 11 between 100 and 150 miles from the centre in the southern quadrant from 262000UTC. In addition, latest information now indicates that southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 262000UTC and 270100UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both south of 64 north and between 03 east and 06 east.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 3 or less, then becoming northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times in north, then rain or drizzle later except in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, then gale 8 to storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later, occasionally high later in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps thundery and squally later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale force 8 at first in north and later elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times, turning to sleet or snow at times in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly, becoming cyclonic in southeast, then northwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in southeast, occasionally high later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain at times in southeast, perhaps thundery, otherwise mainly fair, showers later, these turning wintry later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast.
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 260000UTC, developing low 47 north 41 west 996 expected 54 north 29 west 967 by 270000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southern semicircle from 260600UTC. Westerly winds also occasionally reaching violent storm force 11 between 100 and 150 miles from the centre in the southern quadrant from 262000UTC. In addition, latest information now indicates that southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 262000UTC and 270100UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both south of 64 north and between 03 east and 06 east.
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 or 5 at first in far northwest, otherwise southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 for a time later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later, occasionally very high later in north.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches at first in west and north, showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east and south and very poor at first in west and north.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 260000UTC, developing low 47 north 41 west 996 expected 54 north 29 west 967 by 270000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 300 miles from the centre in the southern semicircle from 260600UTC. Westerly winds also occasionally reaching violent storm force 11 between 100 and 150 miles from the centre in the southern quadrant from 262000UTC. In addition, latest information now indicates that southerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 262000UTC and 270100UTC in that part of Norwegian Basin that lies both south of 64 north and between 03 east and 06 east.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming westerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale force 9 at first in west, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at times, showers turning wintry later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or rough, occasionally poor and very poor later in north.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, but variable 3 or 4 at first in southeast, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in far east, becoming mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet and snow at first, snow showers later mainly in south, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 100 miles of greenland to the south of 70 north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but locally severe icing until 262100utc in east within 50 miles of greenland near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing from 261500utc, with temperatures between ms02 and ms05, but locally severe icing from 262200utc in north within 50 miles of ice edge, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in east, becoming northerly or northeasterly.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time in east.
- Weather
- Rain for a time in southeast, but sleet or snow at times elsewhere, snow showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast and very poor elsewhere. Light or moderate icing at times in western and central areas until 270400utc between 68 north and 70 north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 for a time in east, veering northwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, becoming mainly fair later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in East Northern Section and East Central Section. Storm force winds expected in Rockall, Bailey and Southeast Iceland. Severe gales expected in Shannon, Faeroes, West Northern Section, West Central Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.
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.