High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 041200UTC, low 58 north 31 west 990 expected 66 north 04 east 977 by 051200UTC. Low 68 north 07 west 977 expected 70 north 07 east 974 by same time. Low 61 north 40 west 991 losing its identity by that time. at 041200UTC, high 46 north 17 west 1032 expected 44 north 23 west 1028 by 051200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
- Weather
- Rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- In north, southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly 6 later. in south, southwesterly 5 to 7, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- In north, rough or very rough. in south, rough, becoming very rough at times in north.
- Weather
- In north, rain then showers. in south, rain, showers later.
- Visibility
- In north, good, occasionally poor. in south, moderate or poor, occasionally good.
Bailey
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 041200UTC, low 58 north 31 west 990 expected 66 north 04 east 977 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, becoming from 050000UTC within 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, until 051100UTC. Southwesterly winds are then expected to increase to storm force 10 near the Norway coast north of 63 north in Norwegian Basin from 051400UTC.
- Wind
- In southeast, southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north. in northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, then westerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- In southeast, very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time. in northwest, rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- In southeast, moderate or poor, occasionally good. in northwest, moderate or poor.
Faeroes
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 041200UTC, low 58 north 31 west 990 expected 66 north 04 east 977 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, becoming from 050000UTC within 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, until 051100UTC. Southwesterly winds are then expected to increase to storm force 10 near the Norway coast north of 63 north in Norwegian Basin from 051400UTC.
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later, veering west 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 041200UTC, low 58 north 31 west 990 expected 66 north 04 east 977 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, becoming from 050000UTC within 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, until 051100UTC. Southwesterly winds are then expected to increase to storm force 10 near the Norway coast north of 63 north in Norwegian Basin from 051400UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time at first, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 for a time later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in east and south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 041200UTC, low 58 north 31 west 990 expected 66 north 04 east 977 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, becoming from 050000UTC within 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, until 051100UTC. Southwesterly winds are then expected to increase to storm force 10 near the Norway coast north of 63 north in Norwegian Basin from 051400UTC.
In area north of 61 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in northwest and westerly 6 to gale 8 for a time in south.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in north and very rough in far south.
- Weather
- Rain at times then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In area south of 61 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first in far north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, but gale 8 to storm 10 at first in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in north.
- Weather
- Rain at first in north and east, otherwise squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
West Northern Section
In area north of 61 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 3 to 5 for a time in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In area south of 61 north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in far southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, then northerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough in north, moderate in south.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, becoming mainly fair in northwest, then showers later in far north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming mainly good in northwest.
West Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough.
- Weather
- Showers in north.
- Visibility
- Good.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 at times at first in southeast, becoming easterly or northeasterly later, but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle with fog patches until later in south and east, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor until later in south and east, otherwise good.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 until later in southeast and far east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Fair at first in east, otherwise occasional rain, sleet and snow, fog patches in south.
- Visibility
- Good at first in east, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor in north and very poor in south.
North Iceland
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, wintry showers later in north and west, fog patches at first in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at first in east.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing in far north with temperatures around ms02.
Norwegian Basin
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 041200UTC, low 58 north 31 west 990 expected 66 north 04 east 977 by 051200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, becoming from 050000UTC within 100 and 200 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant, until 051100UTC. Southwesterly winds are then expected to increase to storm force 10 near the Norway coast north of 63 north in Norwegian Basin from 051400UTC.
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, but increasing gale 8 to storm 10 later near norway coast north of 63 north.
- Sea state
- Very rough occasionally high.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in West Northern Section and Norwegian Basin with gales in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section and 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.