High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 121200UTC, low 66 north 25 west 1011 is expected 66 north 17 west 992 by 131200UTC. High 57 north 23 west 1021 expected 53 north 09 west by same time. New low expected 53 north 31 west 999 by that time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, veering southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northeast 4 or 5, veering south or southeast 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasional slight later in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming south or southwest 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northwest 3 to 5, backing west 5 or 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Faeroes
- Wind
- West or northwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Westerly becoming cyclonic, 5 or 6, increasing 6 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first and rough later in north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
West Northern Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- West or southwest, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, then becoming northerly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly, backing northeasterly later, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- M becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, veering westerly 5 or 6 later in southwest of area.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
West Central Section
In north or area
- Wind
- East or southeast 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
In south or area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming westerly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far northeast.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate or poor.
Denmark Strait
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in Denmark Strait from 122200UTC until 131900UTC within an area north of 66 north and east of 22 west. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in northern Iceland from 130000UTC until 132000UTC within an area north of 66 north and west of 18 west.
In east
- Wind
- Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in east, becoming northerly 8 to storm 10 later occasionally violent storm 11 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
- Visibility
- Light to moderate icing in ms 02 to ms 04 and moderate to severe icing, occasionally very severe icing, in temperatures of ms 04 to ms 10.
In west
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, backing northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing in east in temperatures ms 02 to ms 04.
North Iceland
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in Denmark Strait from 122200UTC until 131900UTC within an area north of 66 north and east of 22 west. Northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in northern Iceland from 130000UTC until 132000UTC within an area north of 66 north and west of 18 west.
In north or area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northeasterly, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing in ms 02 to ms 04 and moderate to severe icing, occasionally very severe icing, in temperatures of ms 04 to ms 10.
In south of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic, mainly northerly or northeasterly, gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, but very rough or high in west.
- Weather
- Occasional snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing in ms 02 to ms 04 and moderate to severe icing, occasionally very severe icing, in temperatures of ms 04 to ms 10.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Northerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, backing westerly later, then backing southerly or southeasterly 5 or 6 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in south.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later in west.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storms are expected in north Iceland, with storms expected in Southeast Iceland and Denmark Strait, and a risk of storms in Faeroes. Severe gales are expected in Norwegian Basin with gales expected in Sole, Rockall, East Northern Section, East Central Section and West Central Section, and a risk of gales in Bailey. Strong winds are expected in all remaining areas.
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.