Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 070000UTC, low 59 north 15 west 998 expected 61 north 08 west 999 by 080000UTC. Low 46 north 26 west 1007 expected 38 north 18 west 1000 by same time. Low 50 north 26 west 1008 expected 50 north 18 west 1010 by that time. New low expected 67 north 29 west 1022 by 080000UTC. High 62 north 41 west 1032 expected 59 north 33 west 1029 by same time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Smooth or slight in lundy and northeast fastnet, but elsewhere slight or moderate
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good

Shannon

Wind
Southwesterly becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming northeasterly 5 later in northwest.
Sea state
Slight at first in east, otherwise moderate, but becoming rough in northwest
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate

Rockall

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in northwest rockall and northwest hebrides.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough in rockall and west hebrides
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in south, otherwise northeasterly backing northerly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first, backing northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time in west
Weather
Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Faeroes

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west and 5 elsewhere.
Sea state
Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough
Weather
Rain, sleet or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Northeasterly, backing northerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east and 5 in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough at first except in far south, otherwise rough or very rough
Weather
Snow showers or rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor

East Northern Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 becoming northerly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at first in east, otherwise showers, wintry in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In western half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 or 5, backing northwesterly 3 or 4 later in northwest.
Sea state
Very rough at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, wintry in north, then rain or sleet later in north.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in north and moderate in south.

West Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly, backing westerly or southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough at first in south, otherwise moderate.
Weather
Rain or sleet at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In northwest

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough at first in southeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather
Rain or sleet at times in north.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor in north.

In southeast

Wind
Northeasterly 4 or 5 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate later except in far southeast.
Weather
Showers at first.
Visibility
Good.

In southwest

Wind
Easterly or southeasterly 3 or 4 veering southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough becoming moderate.
Weather
Fair, then rain in west and south.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor in west and south.

East Central Section

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise cyclonic mainly 4 to 6, but 6 to gale 8 at first in far southwest, then becoming northeasterly 5 to 7 later except in southeast.
Sea state
Slight or moderate at first in southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, perhaps thundery at first in far southeast.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 5 later in far northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair, then rain or drizzle at times in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 in south.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times in east and south, fog patches near greenland.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

In northwestern half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less in far northwest.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Snow showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor.

In southeastern half of the area

Wind
Northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 in far southeast, then becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later in far southeast.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming rough or very rough in far southeast.
Weather
Sleet or snow showers, then rain or snow developing in far southeast.
Visibility
Good, occasionally very poor, but becoming moderate to very poor in far southeast.

Norwegian Basin

In area to the west of 05 east

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state
Moderate becoming rough.
Weather
Wintry showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In area to the east of 05 east

Wind
Southwesterly 4 or 5 at first near norway, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain at first.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Central Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in west Sole, Shannon and Norwegian Basin. Risk of gales at first in northeast 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.

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.