Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 170000UTC, low 52 north 53 west 967 expected 61 north 49 west 955 by 180000UTC. Frontal trough from 60 north 42 west to 51 north 29 west expected from 65 north 35 west to 55 north 22 west by same time. Lows 53 north 10 west 1002 and 61 north 17 west 1005 losing their identities
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming rough, then moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first then 2 later, then becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later except in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough, then moderate later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first then 2 later, then becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 5 or 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 170000UTC, low 52 north 53 west 967 expected 61 north 49 west 955 by 180000UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 and 67 north in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait from 171000UTC until 180500UTC, and then storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 67 and 68 north in Denmark Strait from 180100UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the northwest of West Central Section from 171000UTC. At 170000UTC, frontal trough from 60 north 42 west to 51 north 29 west expected from 65 north 35 west to 55 north 22 west by 180000UTC. Easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 from 171000UTC until 180300UTC north of 61 north and within 150 miles northeast of the trough.
In north
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in west, veering southwesterly 3 to 5 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
- Weather
- Showers, then occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times mainly in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
- Weather
- Showers until later in east, otherwise occasional rain, squally wintry showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west and later in east.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 170000UTC, low 52 north 53 west 967 expected 61 north 49 west 955 by 180000UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 and 67 north in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait from 171000UTC until 180500UTC, and then storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 67 and 68 north in Denmark Strait from 180100UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the northwest of West Central Section from 171000UTC. At 170000UTC, frontal trough from 60 north 42 west to 51 north 29 west expected from 65 north 35 west to 55 north 22 west by 180000UTC. Easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 from 171000UTC until 180300UTC north of 61 north and within 150 miles northeast of the trough.
In north
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in far northwest near greenland, veering southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 in southwest and also later elsewhere, occasionally gale 8 in south, then decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in far northeast, otherwise rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in far northeast, otherwise rain at times but snow in far northwest, then squally showers in southwest and also later elsewhere, becoming wintry at times later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first but very poor in far northwest. Occasional light or moderate icing expected in far northwest near greenland.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 in north and east, decreasing 5 to 7 later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain then squally sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing expected later in far west.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in northwest and then later elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough for a time, then becoming very rough or high later in west.
- Weather
- Showers at first in east, otherwise rain at times, then wintry showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 170000UTC, low 52 north 53 west 967 expected 61 north 49 west 955 by 180000UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 and 67 north in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait from 171000UTC until 180500UTC, and then storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 67 and 68 north in Denmark Strait from 180100UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the northwest of West Central Section from 171000UTC. At 170000UTC, frontal trough from 60 north 42 west to 51 north 29 west expected from 65 north 35 west to 55 north 22 west by 180000UTC. Easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 from 171000UTC until 180300UTC north of 61 north and within 150 miles northeast of the trough.
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high in north and west.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, then squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 170000UTC, low 52 north 53 west 967 expected 61 north 49 west 955 by 180000UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach violent storm force 11 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 64 and 67 north in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait from 171000UTC until 180500UTC, and then storm force 10 within 100 miles of the Greenland coast between 67 and 68 north in Denmark Strait from 180100UTC. Westerly or southwesterly winds are also expected to reach storm force 10 at times in the northwest of West Central Section from 171000UTC. At 170000UTC, frontal trough from 60 north 42 west to 51 north 29 west expected from 65 north 35 west to 55 north 22 west by 180000UTC. Easterly or southeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 from 171000UTC until 180300UTC north of 61 north and within 150 miles northeast of the trough.
In far east
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6 at first in north and east, otherwise 6 to gale 8, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in far west, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough occasionally high.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then rain, sleet, snow and freezing rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Moderate or severe icing expected near the greenland coast with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Occasional snow at first in east then later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in east and then later in west. Occasional light icing expected later in far north with temperatures ms03 to ms05.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in southwest, becoming southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers, wintry at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly at first in east, otherwise southerly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times in south.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms expected in West Central Section and Denmark Strait with severe gales in East Northern Section and West Northern Section. Gales expected in Shannon, Rockall, Bailey, Southeast Iceland and East Central Section.
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.