Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 041200UTC, low 58 north 53 west 977 expected 63 north 70 west 981 by 051200UTC. New lows expected 47 north 04 west 1009 and 54 north 03 east 1006 by same time. New highs expected 48 north 31 west 1028 and 43 north 25 west 1032 by that time. at 041200UTC, high 70 north 38 west 1029 expected 67 north 32 west 1029 by 051200UTC. New lows expected 47 north 51 west 985 and 64 north 14 west 1015 by same time. New low expected 62 north 41 west 1010 by that time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 for a time, becoming mainly northerly later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in east.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first, otherwise north or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain or squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- North or northwest 5 to 7, occasionally 4 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain or squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northerly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough until later.
- Weather
- Squally snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally slight at first in northwest and later in northeast.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain and showers later, mainly in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor later in west.
In southwest of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, then cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- Fair, then occasional rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly backing southwesterly later, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first, becoming fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 62 north 41 west 1010 by 051200UTC. Northeasterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times in the southwest of the Denmark Strait, close to the ice edge within 50 and 120 miles of the Greenland coast between 050900UTC and 051600UTC.
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in north and east, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southwest, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, but gale 8 or severe gale 9 later in northwest, perhaps storm 10 for a time in the far northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in northeast, otherwise rain at times, turning to sleet or snow in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Good at first in north, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at times later in far northwest. Light or moderate icing developing later in far northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, but southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in east, otherwise rough, but occasionally very rough in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, sleet or wintry showers, but snow later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, and very poor at times later in far southwest.
East Central Section
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southwest 4 to 6 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
In eastern half of area
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, but occasionally moderate at first in northeast and later in southeast.
- Weather
- Rain, then mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
In western half of area
- Wind
- Mainly westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northwest, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in far northwest, but becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough at first and later.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain or sleet later, good, becoming moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 62 north 41 west 1010 by 051200UTC. Northeasterly winds will increase storm force 10 at times in the southwest of the Denmark Strait, close to the ice edge within 50 and 120 miles of the Greenland coast between 050900UTC and 051600UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far west, increasing 8 to storm 10 for a time in southwest close to greenland coast, slight or moderate, becoming moderate, occasionally rough in east, but rough or very rough later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Occasional sleet or snow later in south, fog patches at first.
- Weather
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
- Visibility
- Light or moderate icing developing from 050300utc, within 150 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing developing locally for a time later to the south of 69 north near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.
North Iceland
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally variable 2 to 4 in northwest.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate, occasionally rough in southeast.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing developing from 050300utc, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing developing for a time near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms10.
In southeast of the area
- Wind
- Northerly, but cyclonic later in far southeast, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far southeast and 3 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
In southwest of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first, becoming mainly northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor. Light or moderate icing developing in the west near the ice from 050300utc, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing developing for a time, with temperatures ms06 to ms10.
Norwegian Basin
In area to the west of 01 west
- Wind
- Northerly becoming cyclonic for a time, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing northwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough, then mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In area to the east of 01 west
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 2 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Severe gales in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Gales expected in Sole, Shannon, Faeroes, East Northern Section, West Central Section and north Iceland. Risk of gales in Southeast Iceland.
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.