Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 221200UTC, low 62 north 38 west 994 expected 65 north 32 west 980 by 231200UTC. Low 41 north 18 west 997 expected 39 north 14 west 1002 by same time. High 52 north 20 west 1029 expected 53 north 06 west 1027 by that time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Shannon

Wind
North or northeast 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

Rockall

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good.

Bailey

Wind
Southwest 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in northwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind
Westerly 3 or 4 backing southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers then rain, fog patches in north.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north.

East Northern Section

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 except in far southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4 in southwest and northeast, and later also in northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in south.
Weather
Fair in far southeast, but elsewhere rain or showers, fog patches in far southwest.
Visibility
Good in far southeast, elsewhere mainly moderate or good occasionally poor, but becoming very poor at times in far southwest.

West Northern Section

In area to the north of 60 north

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far north but decreasing 3 to 5 in south and in far west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far north but becoming moderate for a time in southwest.
Weather
Rain or showers, but becoming fair in far west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In area to the south of 60 north

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain and fog patches at first in far southeast, otherwise showers.
Visibility
Poor or very poor at first in far southeast, otherwise good occasionally moderate.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind
Northeasterly 5 or 6 in far southeast, but elsewhere variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers in far southeast, but elsewhere mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in far southeast.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in south, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in north, then veering northwesterly 4 to 6 later in far northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather
Fair at first except in far northwest, otherwise rain.
Visibility
Good at first except in far northwest, otherwise moderate or good occasionally poor.

West Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly or northwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain, perhaps thundery, then showers later except in far southeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather
Rain at first except in far northwest, perhaps thundery, otherwise showers, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south and very poor at first in north.

Denmark Strait

Storm warning
Issued:

At 221200UTC, low 62 north 38 west 994 expected 65 north 32 west 980 by 231200UTC. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times within 50 miles of the Greenland coast to the west of 27 west in Denmark Strait until 231200UTC.

In southeast

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in west.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 in far south but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in north.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain in far south, otherwise fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in far south.

In the rest of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later within 50 miles of greenland to the west of 27 west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time to the west of 27 west.
Weather
Rain or drizzle.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 72 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 except in far northwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain in far southeast, otherwise fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate in far southeast.

In area to the south of 72 north

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first except in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times, fog banks developing except in southwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor except in southwest.

Norwegian Basin

In northwestern half of the area

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
Weather
Rain or drizzle for a time.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

In southeastern half of the area

Wind
Mainly variable 2 to 4, but northwesterly 5 at first in far southeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or drizzle for a time later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate later.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in East Northern Section and East Central Section. Risk of gales later in northwestern Bailey and western Southeast 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.

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