High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 201200UTC, low 46 north 41 west 1017 expected 44 north 22 west 1008 by 211200UTC. New low expected 63 north 41 west 1005 by same time. High 54 north 29 west 1029 expected 53 north 27 west 1031 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- North or northwest 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, but rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate, but rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate, but rough at first in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- North backing west or northwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northerly backing westerly or northwesterly later, 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Northern Section
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, 4 or 5, occasionally 3 at first and increasing 6 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first in far north, becoming rough later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Northwesterly, backing westerly in northwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
West Northern Section
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5, backing southwesterly 4 to 6, but becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in far northwest, then increasing 7 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In northwest, occasional rain or drizzle with fog patches, in southeast, showers.
- Visibility
- Good in southeast, but moderate or good in northwest, occasionally very poor in northwest.
East Central Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Variable in west and northerly in east, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 at first in east.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in southeast, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Northerly 3 to 5 at first in far east, otherwise easterly backing northeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far southwest, then increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, but rain in far south.
- Visibility
- Good, but moderate to poor in far south.
West Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 for a time in far southeast, then becoming easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times with fog patches, becoming mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
In northwest
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first.
- Weather
- Rain at times later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate later.
Denmark Strait
In an area south of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly southwesterly at first, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In an area north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Variable, mainly northeasterly at first, 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming slight.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but variable 2 to 4 in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, becoming mainly fair in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in east.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Risk of severe gales in East Central Section. Risk of gales in East Northern Section and 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.