General synopsis

At 260000UTC, low 59 north 31 west 974 expected eastern Iceland 974 by 270000UTC. Developing Atlantic low moving rapidly eastwards, expected 47 north 17 west 1007 by same time. New low expected 50 north 08 west 1007 by that time. New low expected 51 north 51 west 996 by 270000UTC

Area forecasts for the next 24 hours

Sole

Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. Rough or very rough. Rain or showers. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north, decreasing 5 later in south. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later. Rain then squally showers. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Bailey

Southerly or southwesterly, veering westerly later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later. Rain then squally showers, becoming wintry later. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Faeroes

Cyclonic 3 to 5 becoming south 5 to 7, veering west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later. Rain or showers, becoming squally. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Southeasterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6, then westerly gale 8 to storm 10 later. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later. Rain or sleet, then squally wintry showers. Good occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor later. light icing later near Iceland.

East Northern Section

Cyclonic 6 to gale 8 becoming westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 5 to 7 later in south. Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery, and with snow in northwest, then squally sleet or snow showers. Moderate to very poor, occasionally good at first. Light or moderate icing in northwest.

West Northern Section

In area to the north of 63 north

Westerly or northwesterly mainly 7 to severe gale 9, but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 to the west of 37 west and occasionally 6 in northeast. Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high. Squally snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Mainly light or moderate icing, but severe or very severe icing in west.

In area to the south of 63 north

Cyclonic mainly northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east, backing westerly 5 to 7 later, but then becoming variable 3 or 4 later in far southwest. Very rough or high in east, rough or very rough in west. Squally sleet or snow showers. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times in north and west.

East Central Section

Westerly or southwesterly veering northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, but increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time to the south of 48 north. Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high in south. Rain until later in south, perhaps thundery, otherwise squally showers, becoming wintry in north. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

West Central Section

Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south, backing westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later in west. Very rough or high. Rain or squally showers, thundery at times in south and wintry in north. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Denmark Strait

In area to the south of 67 north

Mainly cyclonic 5 to 7, but increasing 7 to severe gale 9 in east, and northwesterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 throughout in very far west. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in east. Snow at times. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing in southeast, with temperatures ms05 to ms08, but severe or very severe icing further west and north, with temperatures ms09 to ms12.

In area to the north of 67 north

Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, occasionally hurricane force 12 later. Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later. Snow at times. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Severe or very severe icing away from the ice, with temperatures ms10 to ms13.

North Iceland

In northwestern half of the area

Cyclonic 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, but becoming northerly or northeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 in far west. Rough or very rough. Snow at times. Moderate to very poor, occasionally good. Light or moderate icing at times in far south, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe or very severe icing at times further north near the ice, with temperatures ms09 to ms12.

In southeastern half of the area

Southeasterly backing easterly or northeasterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, but becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 later in far south. Rough or very rough. Rain, sleet or snow at times. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing developing later in southwest, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Norwegian Basin

Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 later, then veering westerly 7 to severe gale 9 later in far southwest. Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in southwest. Occasional rain, then showers, becoming squally later. Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Hurricane force winds expected in Denmark Strait. Storm force winds expected in Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section and north Iceland. Severe gales expected in Faeroes, East Northern Section, West Central Section and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Bailey and East Central Section. Risk of gales in Sole.

Unscheduled storm warnings are broadcast via Safetynet and in bulletin WONT54 EGRR available via some internet and ftpmail outlets