High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 051200UTC, low 68 north 00 east 998 expected 65 north 03 east 995 by 061200UTC. Low 57 north 40 west 999 expected 57 north 42 west 995 by same time. Developing Atlantic low moving steadily northeastwards, expected 54 north 37 west 995 by that time. at 051200UTC, high 50 north 10 west 1028 expected 49 north 02 west 1022 by 061200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less.
- Sea state
- Moderate until later in west, otherwise slight.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain in south.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor in south.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in north but veering southwesterly 3 or 4 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair until later in far north, otherwise rain.
- Visibility
- Good until later in far north, otherwise moderate or poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly, backing southerly later in southwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far southwest, and later also in far northeast, but becoming cyclonic 2 to 4 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, but mainly fair in far north, fog patches in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in far north, but becoming very poor at times in southeast.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far northwest, and later also in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
East Central Section
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Mainly variable 2 to 4, but southwesterly 5 in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming slight later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 or 3 at first in far south, otherwise southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, occasionally thundery, fog banks except in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Mainly moderate to very poor, but moderate or good in far southeast and becoming mainly good later in far northwest.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5 in far south and southerly 3 to 5 in north, but elsewhere variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog banks in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north and west.
North Iceland
In northwest
- Wind
- Southerly 4 or 5, increasing 6 for a time in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.
In northeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in far east, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain until later, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, becoming cyclonic in north, mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in northwest and then occasionally 7 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in East Northern Section. Risk of gales later in West 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.