High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 161200UTC, low 63 north 29 west 974 expected 61 north 08 west 977 by 171200UTC. New low expected 63 north 36 west 991 by same time. High 44 north 25 west 1038 expected 42 north 25 west 1033 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- West or southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough in west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or southwest veering west or northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming very rough, then becoming high later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southwest veering west 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 for a time in north.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then increasing 6 to gale 8 again later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough, but becoming high later in south.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 161200UTC, low 63 north 29 west 974 expected 61 north 08 west 977 by 171200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 100 and 200 miles from the centre in the southwest quadrant until 170300UTC.
In area to the north of 62 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 3 to 5 again later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In area to the south of 62 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly at first in east, otherwise westerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in north, then backing westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, squally until later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
West Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming moderate or good.
In northwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far southwest, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then rain at times in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in south.
In south
- Wind
- Northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in far east, otherwise westerly 6 to gale 8 backing southwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later, then increasing 7 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly, backing southwesterly later in west, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far northeast.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 at first in northeast, otherwise southwesterly 3 to 5 increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in central areas.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough in north, moderate or rough in south.
- Weather
- Fair at first in north, otherwise rain at times, perhaps thundery, fog patches developing in central and northern areas.
- Visibility
- Good at first in north, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor in central and northern areas and poor in south.
Denmark Strait
In area to the west of 31 west
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 5 or 6 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Fair then rain or sleet and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly 4 or 5 later in far south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain or sleet at times in west, with fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, then decreasing 3 or 4 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog banks later in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor later in south.
Norwegian Basin
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 or 3 at first in east, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in far east, otherwise variable 2 or 3 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in East Northern Section. Gales expected in Shannon, Rockall, Bailey, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait, possibly becoming severe later in Bailey and Denmark Strait.
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.