Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 181200UTC, lows 60 north 22 west 961 and 68 north 15 west 972 both losing their identities by 191200UTC. New low moving steadily east expected 58 north 35 west 965 by same time. New low expected 65 north 02 east 976 by that time

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
West, backing southwest later, 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state
High, becoming very rough later.
Weather
Squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

Shannon

Wind
West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
High, occasionally very high at first and very rough later.
Weather
Squally thundery showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Rockall

Wind
West or southwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
High, occasionally very high at first and very rough later.
Weather
Squally thundery showers.
Visibility
Poor.

Bailey

Wind
In south, southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly for a time later, 6 to gale 8. in north, southerly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time.
Sea state
In south, very rough or high. in north, very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
In south, squally showers. in north, rain or squally showers.
Visibility
In south, moderate or poor. in north, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
Southerly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather
Rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state
High becoming very rough, then mainly rough later.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Poor, becoming moderate or good.

East Northern Section

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times later.
Sea state
High at first in east, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers, wintry at times in northwest, occasional rain later.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

In south

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in far northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in far south, becoming cyclonic in west and also later in east.
Sea state
Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first in far south.
Weather
Occasional rain or squally showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

New low moving steadily east expected 58 north 35 west 965 by 191200UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 south of 59 north in West Northern Section and storm force 10 in West Central Section, in both areas in the west from 190400UTC and in the east from 190900UTC. Low 68 north 15 west 972 losing its identity by 191200UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 north of 68 north in Denmark Strait until 191200UTC and in the far southwest of Denmark Strait from 191500UTC. Finally, southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 near the Norway coast south of 64 north in Norwegian Basin from 190800UTC and until 191500UTC.

In north

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly or northeasterly, then cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in far northwest.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far north and far south.
Weather
Wintry showers, then occasional rain in far south and also later in east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in far northwest and poor elsewhere.

In south

Wind
Westerly 6 to gale 8 at first in far east, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, then increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 in west and also later in east, decreasing 6 to gale 8 later in far north.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming high or very high later.
Weather
Rain or squally showers, becoming wintry in west and south.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in west and south.

East Central Section

Wind
Westerly backing southerly or southwesterly, then becoming cyclonic later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 in south and severe gale 9 at first in northeast, then increasing severe gale 9 at times later.
Sea state
High or very high becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or squally showers, becoming wintry later in west.
Visibility
Poor, occasionally moderate.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

New low moving steadily east expected 58 north 35 west 965 by 191200UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 south of 59 north in West Northern Section and storm force 10 in West Central Section, in both areas in the west from 190400UTC and in the east from 190900UTC. Low 68 north 15 west 972 losing its identity by 191200UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 north of 68 north in Denmark Strait until 191200UTC and in the far southwest of Denmark Strait from 191500UTC. Finally, southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 near the Norway coast south of 64 north in Norwegian Basin from 190800UTC and until 191500UTC.

Wind
Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, veering westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in west and also later in east.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming high or very high later.
Weather
Showers at first in southeast, otherwise occasional rain, perhaps thundery, then squally showers, turning to sleet and snow except in far south.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor except in far south.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning
Issued:

New low moving steadily east expected 58 north 35 west 965 by 191200UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 south of 59 north in West Northern Section and storm force 10 in West Central Section, in both areas in the west from 190400UTC and in the east from 190900UTC. Low 68 north 15 west 972 losing its identity by 191200UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 north of 68 north in Denmark Strait until 191200UTC and in the far southwest of Denmark Strait from 191500UTC. Finally, southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 near the Norway coast south of 64 north in Norwegian Basin from 190800UTC and until 191500UTC.

In area north of 68 north

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Occasional snow.
Visibility
Poor or very poor. Moderate icing with temperatures around ms04.

In rest of area

Wind
Cyclonic mainly northerly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, becoming northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally 6 in southeast and storm 10 later in far west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate near iceland and high later in far west.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing developing within 100 miles of the greenland coast with temperatures ms02 or ms03.

North Iceland

In northwestern half of area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far west, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 at times in far southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Occasional sleet or snow, with freezing rain at times in far southeast.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor. Light or moderate icing expected within 100 miles of the greenland coast with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

In southeastern half of area

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in far west.
Sea state
High at first in far southeast, otherwise rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in west.
Weather
Occasional rain or showers, fog patches developing.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

High seas storm warning
Issued:

New low moving steadily east expected 58 north 35 west 965 by 191200UTC. Westerly or northwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 south of 59 north in West Northern Section and storm force 10 in West Central Section, in both areas in the west from 190400UTC and in the east from 190900UTC. Low 68 north 15 west 972 losing its identity by 191200UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 north of 68 north in Denmark Strait until 191200UTC and in the far southwest of Denmark Strait from 191500UTC. Finally, southwesterly winds are expected to reach storm force 10 near the Norway coast south of 64 north in Norwegian Basin from 190800UTC and until 191500UTC.

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in east, occasionally storm 10 later near norway coast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west and later in northeast.
Weather
Mainly fair at first in north and east, otherwise occasional rain or showers, squally at times.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms expected in West Northern Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait with severe gales in Sole, Shannon, Rockall, East Northern Section and East Central Section. Gales expected in Bailey and Norwegian Basin.

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.

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