Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
New low expected 52 north 16 west 976 by 111200UTC. Low 56 north 28 west 987 expected 58 north 16 west 973 by same time. Low 70 north 00 east 1006 expected 72 north 06 west 1001 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first and severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 52 north 16 west 976 by 111200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the northern half of sea area Shannon after 111400UTC. Then westerly or southwesterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 to the north of 53 north in Shannon between 111600UTC and 111800 UTC, and also to the south of 55 north in sea area Rockall after 111700UTC. Also, southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 63 north in Norwegian Basin after 111000UTC.
- Wind
- Southerly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Rockall
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 52 north 16 west 976 by 111200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the northern half of sea area Shannon after 111400UTC. Then westerly or southwesterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 to the north of 53 north in Shannon between 111600UTC and 111800 UTC, and also to the south of 55 north in sea area Rockall after 111700UTC. Also, southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 63 north in Norwegian Basin after 111000UTC.
- Wind
- In south, southerly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later. in north, cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later in south.
- Weather
- Rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good in north.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or verey rough, but moderate at first in west and high later in far east.
- Weather
- Wintry showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough until later in south and east, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly mainly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east, but 4 to 6 throughout in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in far northwest, elsewhere mainly rough or very rough, but becoming high later in east.
- Weather
- Rain in southeast but sleet or snow showers in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast and very poor in northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later in southeast but occasionally severe gale 9 elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later in northeast.
- Weather
- Rain, then squally showers later, becoming wintry in northwest.
West Northern Section
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far southeast, then backing northerly later.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or very rough, but high at first in far southeast and moderate at first in north.
- Weather
- Rain at first in far southeast, otherwise sleet showers in south and snow showers in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and very poor in north.
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 for a time in north but becoming variable 3 in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times in north.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first, then increasing severe gale 9 for a time in east.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Rain then squally showers, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic mainly 4 to 6 later, but increasing 7 to severe gale 9 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery at times in far south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 for a time in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far northeast.
- Weather
- Rain then showers, becoming wintry.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first and gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times except in southeast, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 68 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing developing later, mainly in west, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
In area to the south of 68 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, but becoming northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in east.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in east.
- Weather
- Snow showers, then rain or snow in southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, but becoming moderate or poor later in far southeast.
Norwegian Basin
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 52 north 16 west 976 by 111200UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the northern half of sea area Shannon after 111400UTC. Then westerly or southwesterly winds will reach violent storm force 11 to the north of 53 north in Shannon between 111600UTC and 111800 UTC, and also to the south of 55 north in sea area Rockall after 111700UTC. Also, southerly or southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the south of 63 north in Norwegian Basin after 111000UTC.
In area to the west of 06 east
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 backing southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good at first.
In area to the east of 06 east
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 or 6 backing southeasterly 4 to 6, then increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in Rockall and Norwegian Basin. Storm force winds expected in Southeast Iceland. Severe gales expected in Shannon, Bailey, Faeroes, East Northern Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in Sole, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait.
Unscheduled storm warnings are broadcast via Safetynet and in bulletin WONT54 EGRR available via some internet and ftpmail outlets
The 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.