High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 111200UTC, high 59 north 31 west 1023 expected 57 north 23 west 1021 by 121200UTC. Low 64 north 01 east 992 losing its identity by same time. New low expected 66 north 29 west 1011 by that time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- East or northeast 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northeast 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in far southwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- North or northeast 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in west later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- North 4 to 6, backing west or northwest 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Sleet and snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
East Northern Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough at first and slight later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain in north, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, but occasionally poor in north.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good.
West Northern Section
In northern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming west or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later in far southeast.
- Weather
- Showers and occasional rain in far north.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor in far north.
In southern half of area
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later in far northeast.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, veering west or southwest 4 to 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 in southwest later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, rain for a time in southwest.
- Visibility
- Good, but moderate or poor for a time in southwest.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale force 8 or severe gale force 9 later in north.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later in south and very rough or high later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional sleet or snow or sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor, becoming poor or very poor later in north and east. A risk of slight to moderate icing in temperatures of ms 02 to ms 04.
North Iceland
In area north of 70 north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Slight icing risk in temperatures of ms 02 to ms 04.
In rest of area
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later, then becoming northeasterly 7 to gale 8 in far northwest later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in far south, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers, occasional snow in far west later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Slight icing risk in temperatures of ms 02 to ms 04.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- In west, rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, elsewhere moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Violent storms expected in north Iceland, storms expected in Denmark Strait, a risk of gales on Norwegian Basin. Strong winds 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.