High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 211200UTC, low 44 north 22 west 1006 expected 41 north 18 west by 221200UTC. Low 63 north 40 west 1005 losing its identity by same time. New low expected 62 north 38 west 995 by that time. at 211200UTC, high 53 north 27 west 1030 expected 52 north 20 west with little change by 221200UTC
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- North veering northeast 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, perhaps thundery at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
Shannon
- Wind
- North veering northeast, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- North backing west or northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- West backing southwest later, 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northwest, backing west or southwest, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, occasional rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough later in north and west.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 or 4 at first in far southeast, otherwise westerly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough except in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain at times in northwest, showers in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in northwest.
West Northern Section
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time later in east, then decreasing 4 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in southeast, otherwise occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor in south.
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times with fog patches, becoming mainly fair in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming mainly good in far northwest.
East Central Section
In northwestern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwesterly 3 to 5 in northwest, increasing 6 or 7 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally rough later in far northwest.
- Weather
- Showers in east, rain later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In southeastern half of area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, but gale 8 or severe gale 9 until later in far southeast, decreasing 3 to 5 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far southeast.
- Weather
- Rain or showers in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Good, but moderate to poor until later in far southeast.
West Central Section
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly, veering southerly or southwesterly later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in far southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at times, but mainly fair in far east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Southerly 5 or 6, increasing 7 at times, veering westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
In an area south of 71 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times near coasts, becoming northeasterly 6 to gale 8 later except in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In an area north of 71 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Smooth or slight, becoming moderate later.
- Weather
- Rain at times in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in south.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, then easterly or northeasterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Slight, becoming moderate later in south and west.
- Weather
- Rain at times in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in south.
In south
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly, but cyclonic in northwest, 3 to 5, increasing 6 at times later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches, becoming mainly fair later in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Storms expected in Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in West Northern Section. Risk of gales in East Northern Section and East Central Section.
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.