High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 170000UTC, low 56 north 30 west 998 expected 60 north 27 west 997 by 180000UTC. High 64 north 10 west 1020 expected 69 north 03 west 1019 by same time. High 45 north 53 west 1020 expected 50 north 46 west 1026 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing westerly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly for a time, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first in south, becoming rough later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southeast 3 to 5, then veering west or southwest 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate, rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Easterly 3 to 5, veering southeasterly, then veering southwesterly later in south, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- North or northeast 2 to 4, veering east or southeast 4 or 5, occasionally 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in far west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in south.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times except in far northwest and far south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in far northwest, elsewhere moderate becoming rough or very rough, then becoming moderate later in northwest.
- Weather
- Rain at times except in far north, fog patches in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, or very poor in southwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southeasterly veering westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly, backing northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later in far east.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first in east, otherwise northwesterly backing westerly, 5 or 6, increasing 7 at times in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times, fog patches at first in far east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in far east.
East Central Section
In north of area
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly, 5 or 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain then showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In south of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 in far southeast, elsewhere westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
West Central Section
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 4 to 6 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers in northwest, but elsewhere rain at times, perhaps thundery, fog patches in south and east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south and east.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in far northeast, then decreasing 3 at times later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, then showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 68 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 in south and east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In area to the north of 68 north
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight, occasionally moderate.
- Weather
- Fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, fog banks.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later near iceland.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly veering northeasterly, 4 or 5, increasing 6 at times in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers in east.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
No gales expected.
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.