High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 251200UTC, low 63 north 01 east 980 expected 65 north 05 east with little change by 261200UTC. New low expected 61 north 33 west 1004 by same time. Low 61 north 24 west 1001 moving rather quickly east-southeastwards and losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Bailey
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in south.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- In northeast, northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later. in southwest, cyclonic 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- In northeast, rough or very rough. in southwest, moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In northeast, occasional rain. in southwest, showers.
- Visibility
- In northeast, moderate or good. in southwest, good.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first near Iceland, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in south.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, occasionally 7 at first, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first in southeast, becoming moderate later in west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate, but slight in far northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog patches in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, veering northwesterly later in west, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor or very poor for a time.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 in west, and later also in east.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming moderate in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain or drizzle at times, mainly in west, fog patches developing in west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west, and later also in east.
- Sea state
- Rough until later in far northeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle at times, fog patches in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.
West Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in far north.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle or showers at times, perhaps thundery, fog patches in west and north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in west and north.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly 4 or 5 for a time at first between 67 north and 69 north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in south, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Mainly northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, but northwesterly 6 to gale 8 in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate or rough, but rough or very rough in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches at first in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor at first in north.
Norwegian Basin
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east, and later also in west and southwest.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate or rough in far north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 until later in far north, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first near norway, then decreasing 4 or 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in far northeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in Norwegian Basin. Risk of gales in northeast Faeroes and eastern north Iceland.
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.