Coast and Sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings


The general synopsis for UK

At 090000UTC, low 57 north 38 west 996 expected 63 north 28 west 982 by 100000UTC. Low 71 north 18 west 989 expected 76 north 02 east 991 by same time. High 46 north 16 west 1027 dissipating

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map


Sole

Wind
In west, variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 for a time later, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later. in east, northwesterly backing southwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 for a time.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
In west, rain later. in east, showers.
Visibility
In west, good, becoming moderate or poor later. in east, good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5 backing south or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in southwest.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Rockall

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5 backing south or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Bailey

Wind
West or southwest 3 to 5 backing south or southwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate at first and poor later.

Faeroes

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Westerly or southwesterly, backing southerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor later.

East Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, fog patches later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor later in west.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering southwesterly 4 to 6, then veering westerly 6 to gale 8 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate at first in north and east, otherwise rough, but becoming very rough later in west.
Weather
Rain, perhaps thundery, then drizzle, with fog patches for a time at first in west, then showers later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor at first in west.

West Northern Section

In northern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 5 to 7 in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers, then sleet later in far northwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and east, and later also in far northwest.

In southern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in northwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, with fog patches, then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first, then becoming good at times.

East Central Section

Wind
Southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first except in far south and far west, veering westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in northeast.
Weather
Fair at first in far east, otherwise thundery rain, then drizzle or showers, fog patches at first in northwest.
Visibility
Good at first in east, otherwise moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first in northwest, becoming moderate or good later.

West Central Section

Wind
Southwesterly veering westerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in south, increasing 6 at times later in far south.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far north.
Weather
Rain or drizzle at times, with fog patches at first in far northeast, then showers later in north and thundery rain later in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in far northeast and poor later in south.

Denmark Strait

In area to the south of 71 north

Wind
Cyclonic becoming easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 within 100 miles of greenland, then occasionally severe gale 9 later near greenland.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later within 100 miles of greenland.
Weather
Showers then rain, with sleet developing near greenland, fog patches.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In area to the north of 71 north

Wind
Northeasterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather
Occasional rain or sleet, mainly in south, fog patches developing in south.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate to very poor in south.

North Iceland

In northwestern half of the area

Wind
Northerly 6 to gale 8 at first in far northwest, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming northerly or northeasterly later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional rain, drizzle or showers, with sleet at first in far north, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor at first in north.

In southeastern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers in north, occasional rain or drizzle developing in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in far northeast, otherwise northwesterly backing southwesterly 3 to 5, then backing southerly 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming slight or moderate in east.
Weather
Showers at first in east, perhaps thundery in far northeast, otherwise mainly fair, but occasional rain later in west.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for the following 24 hours

Violent storm force winds expected in Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in West Northern Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section and Norwegian Basin.

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.

Take our short survey