Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 050000UTC, low 58 north 10 west 1003 expected 71 north 04 east 985 by 060000UTC. New low 51 north 04 west 1015 by same time. Low 63 north 42 west losing its identity by that time. at 050000UTC, low 49 north 48 west 998 expected 60 north 32 west 963 by 060000UTC. New low expected 56 north 35 west 971 by same time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise northwest 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing westerly, then southwesterly later, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing westerly, then southwesterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in northwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northwest backing southwest 4 to 6, then south 7 or gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 050000UTC, low 49 north 48 west 998 expected 60 north 32 west 963 by 060000UTC. . winds are expected to reach storm force 10 and later violent storm 11 at times from 051600UTC in the southeast quadrant within 50 and 150 miles of the centre. New low expected 56 north 35 west 971 by same time, winds are expected increase storm 10 or violent storm 11 from 051600UTC in the southern quadrant within 100 miles of the centre.
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly southwesterly at first, becoming mainly southerly later, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally rough in far north, increasing very rough or high, occasionally very high later in west.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers, rain or sleet later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 050000UTC, low 49 north 48 west 998 expected 60 north 32 west 963 by 060000UTC. . winds are expected to reach storm force 10 and later violent storm 11 at times from 051600UTC in the southeast quadrant within 50 and 150 miles of the centre. New low expected 56 north 35 west 971 by same time, winds are expected increase storm 10 or violent storm 11 from 051600UTC in the southern quadrant within 100 miles of the centre.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic , mainly southerly or southwesterly at first, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first in north, increasing gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 later in southeast, decreasing 7 at times in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers, squally at times, rain and sleet later.
- Visibility
- Moderate to poor, but very poor at times in north, occasionally good at first. Occasional light icing in northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Southwesterly becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, becoming cyclonic 8 to storm 10 in east and south, occasionally violent storm 11 for a time in extreme southwest and later in northwest of area.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers at first, then rain or snow later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good. Occasional light icing later in southwest.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 for a time in northwest, but 4 to 6 in southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally rough in far south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, wintry later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 050000UTC, low 49 north 48 west 998 expected 60 north 32 west 963 by 060000UTC. . winds are expected to reach storm force 10 and later violent storm 11 at times from 051600UTC in the southeast quadrant within 50 and 150 miles of the centre. New low expected 56 north 35 west 971 by same time, winds are expected increase storm 10 or violent storm 11 from 051600UTC in the southern quadrant within 100 miles of the centre.
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 for a time in extreme northwest and perhaps occasionally storm 10 later in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain and sleet, occasionally snow in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at times in north and west. Occasional light icing later in northwest.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming easterly or northeasterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional snow.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good. Occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing, and moderate at times later near ice edge, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
North Iceland
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing until later near ice edge, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 2 at first and 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, but rain at first in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southerly veering westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming mainly rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times, wintry showers later in west.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms or violent storms are expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Gales or severe gales are expected in all other areas, except Sole.
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.