Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 160000UTC, low 62 north 35 west 985 is expected 61 north 18 west 976 by 170000UTC. Low 61 north 05 east 994 losing its identity by same time. New low expected 64 north 15 west 980 by that time. at 160000UTC, high 45 north 28 west 1040 expected 43 north 27 west 1035 by 170000UTC.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Northwesterly backing westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind
Northwesterly 4 or 5, backing westerly or southwesterly 5 or 6, increasing 7 later in north.
Sea state
Rough occasionally very rough later in far northwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later in west.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate, becoming rough or very rough later, then becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind
South or southwest, veering west later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate at first, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, then veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather
Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Storm warning
Issued:

At 160000UTC, low 62 north 35 west 985 is expected 61 north 18 west 976 by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 at times in the southwestern quadrant between 80 and 200 miles of the centre from 161600UTC until 170300UTC.

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly veering west or northwesterly, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm force 10 for a time, also becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6 for a time in north.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east, then becoming mainly very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain or showers, mainly in north later.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In northwest of area

Wind
Northwesterly backing westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6, then becoming variable 4 or less later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south and east.
Weather
Rain or showers at first.
Visibility
Then mainly fair, but showers in south later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In northeast of area

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high at times.
Weather
Rain or showers, occasional drizzle later in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In southern half of area

Wind
Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southwesterly 6 to 7 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather
Rain or showers, then mainly fair.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

East Central Section

In north in area

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 later in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in northwest.
Weather
Rain at first.
Visibility
Good occasionally poor at first.

In south in area

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain for a time.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

West Central Section

In north of area

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, backing southwesterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, mainly later in west, fog patches later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in west.

In south of area

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less for a time, occasionally 7 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times, fog patches later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in west.

Denmark Strait

In area north of 70 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain and fog patches later, good, occasionally very poor later.
Visibility

In rest of area

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state
Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

North Iceland

In north of area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Fair.
Visibility
Good.

In south of area

Wind
Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south until later.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
Weather
Occasional rain, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Visibility

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less, then becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later in west.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Risk of severe gales in Rockall, Bailey and East Northern Section. Gales expected in West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Risk of gales in Faeroes and 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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