Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. at 160000UTC, low 62 north 13 west 973 moving steadily northeast losing its identity by 170000UTC. New high expected 43 north 49 west 1043 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough, occasionally high at first.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high.
- Weather
- Squally showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- High or very high.
- Weather
- Squally showers then rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- West, backing south or southwest, 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very high becoming high.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers.
- Visibility
- Poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- South or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high.
- Weather
- Squally showers then occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, sleet later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough in west.
- Weather
- Wintry showers then occasional rain or sleet.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming westerly, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain then squally wintry showers, sleet or snow for a time in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but becoming very poor for a time in west.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
- Weather
- Squally snow showers.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally poor. Light or moderate icing at times in far west.
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 for a time in west.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time in west.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good. Occasionally very poole harbour.
East Central Section
- Wind
- Southwesterly, veering westerly, 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in far west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and drizzle, then squally showers, becoming wintry for a time in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly gale 8 to storm 10, increasing violent storm 11 for a time in far north.
- Sea state
- High or very high, occasionally very rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, with sleet or snow in southeast, then squally sleet or snow showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in east between 67 north and 70 north, decreasing 6 at times elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing except in southeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times in east near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms08.
North Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 160000UTC, low 48 north 42 west 989 moving steadily east losing its identity by 170000UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the far southwest of West Central Section until 161100UTC. In addition, northwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the far southwest of West Northern Section until 170300UTC and also in the northeast of West Central Section throughout. Low 53 north 34 west 985 expected 61 north 20 west 963 by same time. Winds will reach storm force 10 in the southern semi-circle within 30 and 180 miles from the centre between 161000UTC and 170000UTC. Low 66 north 10 west 972 slow-moving, losing its identity by that time. Northerly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in Denmark Strait north of 68 north throughout and also in the far northwest of north Iceland west of 16 west from 162100UTC.
In west
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing except in far south, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.
In east
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, but northerly or northeasterly gale 8 or severe gale 9 in far west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
- Weather
- Rain, sleet or snow at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in east.
- Sea state
- Very rough occasionally high.
- Weather
- Squally showers.
- Visibility
- Rain later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms expected in Denmark Strait and north Iceland with gales or severe gales in remaining 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.