Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 050000UTC, low 54 north 32 west 982 expected 56 north 39 west 968 by 060000UTC. Low 45 north 46 west 985 expected 52 north 28 west 969 by same time. High 68 north 38 west 1034 expected 71 north 28 west 1031 by that time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 5 Dec 2023.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 5 Dec 2023 to 08:00 (UTC) on Wed 6 Dec 2023.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Shannon

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: South or southeast 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: East 3 or 4, veering southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 5 Dec 2023

At 050000UTC, low 54 north 32 west 982 expected 56 north 39 west 968 by 060000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the northern semicircle. Low 45 north 46 west 985 expected 52 north 28 west 969 by same time. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant.

Wind: Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, veering easterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Wintry showers, then occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Southeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, veering southerly 4 to 6, then backing easterly 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 5 Dec 2023

At 050000UTC, low 54 north 32 west 982 expected 56 north 39 west 968 by 060000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the northern semicircle. Low 45 north 46 west 985 expected 52 north 28 west 969 by same time. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant.

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Rain. Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers, then rain, with occasional sleet or snow later in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good occasionally poor and very poor later in northwest. Light icing expected in far northwest.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 5 Dec 2023

At 050000UTC, low 54 north 32 west 982 expected 56 north 39 west 968 by 060000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the northern semicircle. Low 45 north 46 west 985 expected 52 north 28 west 969 by same time. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant.

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5, then becoming cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain, then thundery showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, veering westerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Tue 5 Dec 2023

At 050000UTC, low 54 north 32 west 982 expected 56 north 39 west 968 by 060000UTC. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 400 miles of the centre in the northern semicircle. Low 45 north 46 west 985 expected 52 north 28 west 969 by same time. Winds are expected to reach storm force 10 between 200 and 350 miles of the centre in the southern quadrant.

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10, becoming westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Cyclonic becoming easterly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in far southwest.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing, occasionally severe later in northwest, expected within 100 miles of the ice edge, with temperatures of ms04 to ms07.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 at times.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor. Moderate occasionally severe icing, west of 18 west expected within 50 miles of the ice edge, with temperatures of ms05 to ms08.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Variable, mainly northerly or northeasterly, 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 or 5 later in far east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight in far south and east.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Hurricanes expected in East Central Section and West Central Section. Storms expected in East Northern Section and Bailey. Severe gales expected in West Northern Section, Denmark Strait, Sole, Shannon and Rockall. With risk of severe gales in Southeast Iceland. Gales expected in Faeroes.

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.