Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 061200UTC, low 48 north 41 west 962 expected 54 north 34 west 967 by 071200UTC. Low 53 north 31 west 970 expected 51 north 34 west 967 by same time. Low 53 north 16 west 982 losing its identity by that time. New low expected 53 north 06 west 988 by 071200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwest, becoming cyclonic for a time, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers or rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor at times.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwesterly, becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 061200UTC, low 48 north 41 west 962 expected 54 north 34 west 967 by 071200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern quadrant within 300 miles of low centre until 070000UTC, and then in the southern quadrant between 150 miles and 350 miles from 070000UTC until 071500UTC in West Central Section. In addition, easterly winds will occasionally reach storm force 10 between Iceland and 62 north from 071900UTC.
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9 in northeast, perhaps storm 10 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle, but showers at first in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, but easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5 at first in north and west, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In area to the north of 60 north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far west and later in east.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high in west, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, with sleet in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, becoming northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Southwesterly but cyclonic at first in northeast, 5 to 7 increasing 7 or gale 8 in south, occasionally severe gale force 9 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, then high or very high later.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, thundery at first in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 061200UTC, low 48 north 41 west 962 expected 54 north 34 west 967 by 071200UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern quadrant within 300 miles of low centre until 070000UTC, and then in the southern quadrant between 150 miles and 350 miles from 070000UTC until 071500UTC in West Central Section. In addition, easterly winds will occasionally reach storm force 10 between Iceland and 62 north from 071900UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, but gale 8 to storm 10 until later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough at first in north, otherwise high or very high, occasionally phenomenal at first in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, occasionally squally and thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times, fog patches in northeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, and very poor in northeast. Light or moderate icing within 100 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but occasional severe icing until 071500utc between 68 and 70 north in east, with temperatures ms07 or ms08.
North Iceland
- Wind
- North of 70 north, cyclonic, becoming northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight near ice edge.
- Weather
- Fog banks, occasional sleet and snow in north, becoming mainly fair later in east.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, becoming moderate or poor, and moderate or good later in east. Light or moderate icing at times in northwest, mainly near the ice, with temperatures between ms02 to ms05.
- Wind
- Rest of area, northeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, but fog patches at first in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, but occasionally very poor at first in northwest.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic but mainly easterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming mainly rough in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section, Denmark Strait and Southeast Iceland. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Bailey, and Faeroes.
Unscheduled storm warnings are broadcast via Safetynet and in bulletin WONT54 EGRR available via some internet and ftpmail outlets
The 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.