High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 011200UTC, low 51 north 44 west 973 expected 61 north 45 west 976 by 021200UTC. High 54 north 14 west 1041 expected 56 north 08 west 1044 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- East or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northeast veering east or southeast, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 4 or 5 in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in far northwest, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- West backing south or southwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in west, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- West or southwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 backing southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
- Weather
- Rain at first in north, and also later in west, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in north and later in west.
West Northern Section
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 veering southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in east and north, otherwise very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers in west, becoming wintry later.
- Visibility
- Good at first in east, otherwise moderate or poor.
In far northwest
- Wind
- Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough, then becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Sleet then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Southerly 5 or 6 backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8, veering southerly again later, then decreasing 4 or 5 later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in far northwest.
- Weather
- Showers at first in south, then rain later in far west, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor later in far west.
West Central Section
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in northwest, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 except in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high at first in northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain for a time, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly 7 to severe gale 9 at first except in southwest, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- High becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east, otherwise showers, squally and wintry at times in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7, then becoming northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 for a time to the west of 34 west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough or very rough except in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet and freezing rain spreading northwards, with snow at times near greenland, fog patches at first in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north and near greenland, and poor elsewhere. Light icing for a time in east near greenland, with temperatures ms02 or ms03.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or less, then southerly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in south.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly, then backing southwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in east and south.
- Sea state
- Rough until later in southeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers at first in southeast, otherwise fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first in southeast. Light or moderate icing at times in far north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in west, moderate or rough in east.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first in south, otherwise westerly or northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast.
- Weather
- Showers at first, then drizzle at times later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Northern Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Risk of gales at first in far northwest 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.