Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 210000UTC, low 49 north 11 west 994 expected 46 north 15 west 986 by 220000UTC. New low expected 60 north 27 west 999 by same time. New high expected 48 north 18 west 1018 by that time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 21 Nov 2024.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 21 Nov 2024 to 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 22 Nov 2024.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northwest 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high until later.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming northeast, 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, becoming northeast, 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Snow showers, occasional rain and snow later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, but variable 2 to 4 at first in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate or poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in east, becoming variable 2 to 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers, occasional rain in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time in north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 in north, but cyclonic 6 to gale 8 in south, becoming northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in south.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Occasional light icing in southwest with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in north, rough or very rough in south.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm force 10 expected in Rockall, Bailey and East Northern Section. Severe gales expected in Sole, West Northern Section and East Central Section. Gales expected in Faeroes, Southeast Iceland and West Central Section.

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.