High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 080000UTC, low 60 north 08 west 980 expected 56 north 02 east 998 by 090000UTC. Low 51 north 49 west 998 expected 58 north 40 west 995 by same time. New low expected 71 north 16 west 989 by that time. at 080000UTC, high 48 north 27 west 1026 expected 46 north 18 west 1027 by 090000UTC. Low 48 north 10 west 1011 moving rather quickly east-northeastwards and losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Bailey
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, becoming northerly 4 to 6, backing westerly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly 6 to gale 8 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in east, otherwise rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise northwesterly backing southwesterly 4 to 6, then backing southerly 6 or 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally moderate, becoming moderate or poor later in southwest.
West Northern Section
In area to the north of 61 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering northwesterly in northwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far northwest, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain later in south and east.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later in south and east.
In area to the south of 61 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain and fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good becoming moderate to very poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 or 6 at first in northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers at first in northeast, otherwise fair, then thundery rain in west, fog patches later in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later in west, then occasionally very poor later in far northwest.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly 3 to 5 at first in far northeast, otherwise southeasterly veering southerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in northeast, and also later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair at first in northeast, otherwise thundery rain and fog banks, then showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Good at first in northeast, otherwise moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good later in west.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in southeast, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 near greenland.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Drizzle at times later, fog patches later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
North Iceland
In northwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Fair then sleet or snow at times, mainly later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.
In northeast
- Wind
- Southerly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at first in far southeast, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first in far southeast.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far southwest.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery at first, becoming fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first and moderate later.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, East Northern Section, East Central Section and 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.