High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 220000UTC, low 47 north 25 west 998 expected 50 north 05 west 976 by 230000UTC. Low 63 north 37 west 979 expected 60 north 24 west 990 by same time. Low 56 north 03 east 995 expected 63 north 00 east 992 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 47 north 25 west 998 expected 50 north 05 west 976 by 230000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle throughout and violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle from 221000UTC, but with violent storm force 11 winds becoming confined to the southern quadrant from 230500UTC. At 220000UTC, low 63 north 37 west 979 expected 60 north 24 west 990 by 230000UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in that part of Denmark Strait which lies both between 68 and 72 north and east of 22 west throughout but extending to the far north of Denmark Strait from 222100UTC, but winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in this area but between 68 and 70 north from 221300UTC and until 222200UTC. Lastly northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of north Iceland from 222200UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high occasionally very high.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Poor.
Shannon
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 47 north 25 west 998 expected 50 north 05 west 976 by 230000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle throughout and violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle from 221000UTC, but with violent storm force 11 winds becoming confined to the southern quadrant from 230500UTC. At 220000UTC, low 63 north 37 west 979 expected 60 north 24 west 990 by 230000UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in that part of Denmark Strait which lies both between 68 and 72 north and east of 22 west throughout but extending to the far north of Denmark Strait from 222100UTC, but winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in this area but between 68 and 70 north from 221300UTC and until 222200UTC. Lastly northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of north Iceland from 222200UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4, becoming north or northwest severe gale 9 to violent storm 11.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in south.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far northwest and then later in far south, but decreasing 3 at times elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly, 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time.
- Weather
- Squally showers, perhaps wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north and southwest, decreasing 5 at times in east, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far northwest and far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally and wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Westerly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 in west, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at times and perhaps wintry at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 47 north 25 west 998 expected 50 north 05 west 976 by 230000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle throughout and violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle from 221000UTC, but with violent storm force 11 winds becoming confined to the southern quadrant from 230500UTC. At 220000UTC, low 63 north 37 west 979 expected 60 north 24 west 990 by 230000UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in that part of Denmark Strait which lies both between 68 and 72 north and east of 22 west throughout but extending to the far north of Denmark Strait from 222100UTC, but winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in this area but between 68 and 70 north from 221300UTC and until 222200UTC. Lastly northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of north Iceland from 222200UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough occasionally high.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 at first in east, becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Thundery rain then squally showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good later.
In southwest
- Wind
- Northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
West Central Section
In northeastern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later in north, decreasing 4 at times in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far northeast.
- Weather
- Showers, mainly in northeast, then occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In southwestern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in southwest, otherwise westerly or northwesterly backing southwesterly, then becoming cyclonic later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north and east.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later.
Denmark Strait
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 47 north 25 west 998 expected 50 north 05 west 976 by 230000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle throughout and violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle from 221000UTC, but with violent storm force 11 winds becoming confined to the southern quadrant from 230500UTC. At 220000UTC, low 63 north 37 west 979 expected 60 north 24 west 990 by 230000UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in that part of Denmark Strait which lies both between 68 and 72 north and east of 22 west throughout but extending to the far north of Denmark Strait from 222100UTC, but winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in this area but between 68 and 70 north from 221300UTC and until 222200UTC. Lastly northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of north Iceland from 222200UTC.
In area east of 22 west
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 in far southeast just northeast of Iceland, otherwise northerly or northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 for a time.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Sleet in far southeast, otherwise snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor. Moderate or severe icing expected north or 67 north with temperatures ms05 to ms08.
In area west of 22 west
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in northeast, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 near the greenland coast and later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in east.
- Weather
- Fair at first in west, otherwise occasional snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing expected at times in northeast with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
North Iceland
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
At 220000UTC, low 47 north 25 west 998 expected 50 north 05 west 976 by 230000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle throughout and violent storm force 11 within 150 miles of the centre in the southwestern semicircle from 221000UTC, but with violent storm force 11 winds becoming confined to the southern quadrant from 230500UTC. At 220000UTC, low 63 north 37 west 979 expected 60 north 24 west 990 by 230000UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in that part of Denmark Strait which lies both between 68 and 72 north and east of 22 west throughout but extending to the far north of Denmark Strait from 222100UTC, but winds are also expected to reach violent storm force 11 in this area but between 68 and 70 north from 221300UTC and until 222200UTC. Lastly northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of north Iceland from 222200UTC.
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times mainly in north and east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain with fog patches, becoming mainly fair in far south.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good in far south.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later, but becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 at times in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet, snow and freezing rain, fog patches in at times in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor. Moderate or severe icing expected in northwest with temperatures ms06 to ms08, occasionally very severe with temperatures around ms09.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair until later in northeast, otherwise rain at times, becoming fair later in south and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in northeast, becoming good later in south and west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storms expected in north Iceland with storms in Sole, East Northern Section, East Central Section and Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in Shannon, Rockall, West Northern Section and West Central Section with gales in Bailey.
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.
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