High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 051200UTC, low 47 north 28 west 993 moving rather quickly northeastwards and losing its identity by 061200UTC. New lows expected 59 north 17 west 985 and 75 north 20 west 991 by same time. Low 60 north 31 west 1001 losing its identity
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 veering southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west, then veering northwesterly later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough in west, then becoming very rough for a time later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly south 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- Cyclonic mainly south 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest 3 or 4 becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6 backing southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Westerly 4 to 6 backing southeasterly 3 to 5, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
In northern half of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 in east, perhaps severe gale 9 later in east.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming rough or very rough later in south and east.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain in east.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor in east.
In southeast
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic 5 to 7, becoming westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough, then very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first except in southeast, otherwise cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming westerly or northwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, mainly in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.
In northwest
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming moderate, then occasionally slight later in north.
- Weather
- Rain or showers in southeast, fog patches in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in north.
In southeast
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In southwest
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time in south.
- Weather
- Rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In eastern half of the area
- Wind
- Southerly veering westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 until later, then decreasing 3 or 4 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, then showers, fog patches at first in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south and very poor at first in north.
In western half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, then backing westerly 4 to 6, then backing southwesterly later and increasing 7 at times in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough or very rough, but moderate at first in far north and also later in far south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain, thundery at first in north, then showers, fog patches at first in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.
West Central Section
In northeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly backing westerly 4 to 6, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In northwest
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in far north but becoming variable 2 to 4 later in south and west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time in far north.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In southeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7 backing westerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in far east, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In southwest
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 3 or 4, then becoming cyclonic mainly southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, then rain later in far southwest, perhaps thundery.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate later in far southwest.
Denmark Strait
In southeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
In the rest of the area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 becoming southwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Fog banks, but fair in far northeast.
- Visibility
- Good in far northeast, but elsewhere moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
North Iceland
In area to the north of 70 north
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly, veering northerly later in far northwest, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Showers, fog patches in south and east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south and east.
In area to the south of 70 north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in far southeast, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Drizzle at times, then rain later in far southeast, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
In area to the west of 05 east
- Wind
- Westerly backing southerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5, then backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers then fair, then rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
In area to the east of 05 east
- Wind
- Westerly backing southwesterly, 3 to 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate at first.
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Storm force winds expected in Bailey and East Northern Section. Severe gales expected in Rockall, Faeroes and Southeast Iceland. Gales expected in East Central Section, West Central Section, the south of sea area north Iceland and Norwegian Basin.
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.