Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 241200UTC, low 57 north 39 west 985 moving steadily north and losing its identity by 251200UTC. New low moving steadily northeast expected 51 north 27 west 1011 by same time. New high expected 45 north 31 west 1029 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- In west, northeasterly 4 to 6. in east, northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
- Sea state
- In west, rough, occasionally very rough later in east. in east, rough or very rough.
- Weather
- In west, showers. in east, showers later.
- Visibility
- Good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7, backing south 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in northwest.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
East Northern Section
In southeast
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 at times in north and west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional drizzle or showers for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In northeast
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair then occasional drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In west
- Wind
- Southerly 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough in south and later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 241200UTC, low 57 north 39 west 985 moving steadily north and losing its identity by 251200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 miles of the centre until 251100UTC, and violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant until 250900UTC. New low moving steadily northeast expected 51 north 27 west 1011 by 251200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 250300UTC and until 250900UTC.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west, then becoming cyclonic later in west and veering westerly 4 to 6 later in far east.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high at first, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain at times in far east and rain, sleet and snow at first in west, otherwise squally showers, turning wintry at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first in west, becoming moderate or good later. Occasional light or moderate icing expected in far northwest near greenland.
In south
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7, then westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later in north and east but variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times in far east, otherwise wintry showers, squally at first.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Central Section
In east
- Wind
- Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In west
- Wind
- Southeasterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later, but decreasing 4 to 6 later in far northeast.
- Sea state
- Moderate at first in southeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 241200UTC, low 57 north 39 west 985 moving steadily north and losing its identity by 251200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 miles of the centre until 251100UTC, and violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant until 250900UTC. New low moving steadily northeast expected 51 north 27 west 1011 by 251200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 250300UTC and until 250900UTC.
In east
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, but 3 to 5 at first in far northwest, increasing gale 8 to storm 10 for a time, becoming northerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or squally showers, mainly fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor until later.
In southwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, perhaps wintry in west, becoming mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first.
In northwest
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northeast and southeasterly 5 to 7 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Very rough becoming rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor until later.
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 241200UTC, low 57 north 39 west 985 moving steadily north and losing its identity by 251200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 250 miles of the centre until 251100UTC, and violent storm force 11 within 50 and 150 miles of the centre in the eastern quadrant until 250900UTC. New low moving steadily northeast expected 51 north 27 west 1011 by 251200UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 within 100 miles of the centre in the southwestern quadrant from 250300UTC and until 250900UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming southwesterly, 7 to severe gale 9, but 4 to 6 at first in north, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 for a time in west, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later, occasionally 3 later in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high for a time, occasionally very high for a time at first in west.
- Weather
- Rain at times in southeast, otherwise occasional sleet, snow and freezing rain then wintry showers, fog patches for a time at first in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at first except in southeast. Light or moderate icing at first near greenland coast with temperatures ms03 to ms05, then occasional light icing in far southwest with temperatures around ms03.
North Iceland
In south
- Wind
- Cyclonic at first in northwest, otherwise southerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south and west, decreasing 4 at times later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in west and rough or very rough in east.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, fog patches at first in north and west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but very poor at first in north and west.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in east, becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Fair, then occasional rain, sleet and snow with fog patches for a time except in far north.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate to very poor for a time except in far north. Occasional light or moderate icing expected near greenland, mainly over the ice, and also at first in far northeast, with temperatures ms03 to ms05.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in northeast, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later, decreasing 3 at times later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally moderate in south and very rough in north.
- Weather
- Fair then occasional drizzle or showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in West Northern Section, West Central Section and north Iceland with gales in Sole, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, East Central Section, Denmark Strait 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.
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.