High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 050000UTC, low 63 north 35 west 1011 expected 62 north 30 west 1006 by 060000UTC. High 51 north 33 west 1030 expected 50 north 24 west 1027 by same time. Low northern Scotland 1002 moving slowly eastwards and losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 decreasing 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Rockall
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Bailey
- Wind
- North 4 to 6 backing west or northwest 3 or 4.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in southeast, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northeast 4 to 6 backing northwest 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in far south, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in southeast.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
East Northern Section
In far northwest
- Wind
- Southerly 4 becoming cyclonic 2 or 3.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly 3 or 4 at first in east, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate in north, moderate or rough in south.
- Weather
- Fair at first in east, otherwise rain or drizzle at times.
- Visibility
- Good at first in east, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally poor in west.
West Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later except in far east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches until later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east and very poor until later in west.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 or 6, veering westerly or northwesterly 3 or 4 except in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle, fog patches developing in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east and very poor in west.
East Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later in northwest.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, veering easterly 4 to 6 in far south.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair in north, rain at times in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate in south.
West Central Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in far north and 3 in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough later in far northeast.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle, then rain in far north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming moderate or poor in far north.
In southern half of the area
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly 4 or 5 at first in southeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later.
- Weather
- Showers in east.
- Visibility
- Good.
Denmark Strait
In area to the south of 71 north
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, but becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain developing, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In area to the north of 71 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
North Iceland
In northwestern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, but increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time at first in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers, fog patches at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Norwegian Basin
In area to the west of 00 east
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly backing northwesterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 for a time in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In area to the east of 00 east
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 or 5 backing northerly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, occasionally rough in far south.
- Weather
- Rain for a time in far south.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time in far south.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Gales expected in the far northwest of East Northern Section, the far northeast of West Northern Section and the south of Denmark Strait.
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.