High seas forecast and storm warnings
The general synopsis for UK
At 151200UTC, low 53 north 44 west 981 expected 54 north 39 west 964 by 161200UTC. New low expected 55 north 31 west 955 by same time. Low 53 north 05 west 994 losing its identity by that time. at 151200UTC, low 68 north 09 east 974 expected 67 north 14 east 985 by 161200UTC. Low 65 north 05 east 975 losing its identity by same time. High 55 north 19 west 1011 moving slowly southeast and dissipating by that time.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 7 to severe gale force 9 later, veering southwesterly 5 to 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, rain later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- In southwest, north 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 7 to severe gale force 9 later. in northeast, northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- In southwest, rough or very rough, occasionally high later in southwest. in northeast, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- In southwest, wintry showers, rain later. in northeast, wintry showers.
- Visibility
- In southwest, good, occasionally poor. in northeast, good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then mainly easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4, then mainly easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Squally wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Good.
East Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 55 north 31west 955 by 161200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the northeast quadrant between 70 and 180 miles of the centre from 160700UTC to 161500UTC, and also later in northwest quadrant between 50 and 150 miles from the centre after 161300UTC.
In northeastern half of area
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate, occasionally slight at first in north, becoming rough or very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In southwestern half of area
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, then very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first in east, then thundery rain spreading northwards later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor later.
West Northern Section
- Storm warning
-
Issued:
New low expected 55 north 31west 955 by 161200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 in the northeast quadrant between 70 and 180 miles of the centre from 160700UTC to 161500UTC, and also later in northwest quadrant between 50 and 150 miles from the centre after 161300UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic mainly easterly or northeasterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in southeast and northwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight at first, becoming moderate or rough later, occasionally very rough later in south.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times in north and northwest, rain in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south and very poor in northwest.
In south
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic, mainly easterly or northeasterly, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later, decreasing 5 to 7 later in far southeast.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in north, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
- Weather
- Rain at times, perhaps thundery, mainly in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in south.
East Central Section
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly, 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first in east, increasing 7 to severe gale 9, becoming southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Thundery rain, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 3 to 5 at first in east, otherwise 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first, becoming very rough or high later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery at times.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
West Central Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in east and north, becoming mainly westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, thundery, fog patches in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in west, becoming good, occasionally poor later.
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first and 7 later in west.
- Sea state
- Mainly moderate, occasionally rough later in southwest.
- Weather
- Snow showers mainly at first in east and later elsewhere.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor at first in east and later elsewhere. Light icing until later in west near ice edge with temperatures of ms 02 to ms 04.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, but 7 or gale 8 at first in southeast and occasionally 3 in west, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Snow at times in northeast and later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in northeast and later in southwest. Light icing until later in north with temperatures of ms 02 to ms 04.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic, mainly westerly or southwesterly, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first close to norwegian coast in northeast, becoming westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, decreasing 3 or 4 later in west, and cyclonic 2 to 4 later in east.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at first in east, otherwise squally wintry showers, moderate or good, occasionally poor.
- Visibility
Outlook for the following 24 hours
Storm force winds are expected in West Northern Section, West Central Section and East Central Section, with severe gales in Rockall and East Northern Section. Gales are expected in Sole, Shannon and Bailey.
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.