Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 081200UTC, developing low moving steadily northeast, expected 66 north 32 west 997 by 091200UTC. Low 68 north 22 west 1008 expected 75 north 01 west 1009 by same time. Low 51 north 16 west 1010 expected 47 north 04 west 1020 by that time. at 081200UTC, low 39 north 26 west 1006 expected 39 north 23 west 1009 by 091200UTC. Low 74 north 08 west 1004 moving away rather quickly northeastwards. Low 59 north 15 west 1015 losing its identity

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6 becoming easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough in west, moderate or rough in east.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in south.
Sea state
Very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain at first in south, otherwise showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic becoming east or southeast, 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic becoming south 4 to 6, decreasing 2 or 3 for a time.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind
South 5 or 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far west, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough at first in far southeast, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor at first in east.

East Northern Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in north.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

In western half of the area

Wind
Southerly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather
Mainly fair then rain or drizzle, with sleet for a time in far north.
Visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

Developing low moving steadily northeast, expected 66 north 32 west 997 by 091200UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 within 50 miles of the Greenland coast in the far northwest of West Northern Section until 090800UTC, and also within 50 miles of the Greenland coast to the west of 26 west in Denmark Strait between 090000UTC and 091600UTC.

In far northwest

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 for a time at first, then becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow, but becoming fair for a time.
Visibility
Poor or very poor becoming good, then becoming moderate to very poor again later. Moderate or severe icing until later, and very severe icing for a time at first.

In the rest of the area

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough at first in northeast, otherwise very rough or high.
Weather
Sleet or snow at first in far north, otherwise rain, then sleet or snow showers in west.
Visibility
Good at first in far northeast, otherwise moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

In southeastern half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly veering easterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far east.
Sea state
Mainly rough, but occasionally very rough at first in south and becoming moderate later in north.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally moderate.

In northwestern half of the area

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far northwest.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

West Central Section

In far southeast

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in far southeast of the area, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

In the rest of the area

Wind
Southerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in north, veering westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, then backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later in northwest.
Sea state
High until later in northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Fair at first in east, otherwise rain, then sleet or snow showers in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning
Issued:

Developing low moving steadily northeast, expected 66 north 32 west 997 by 091200UTC. Easterly or northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 within 50 miles of the Greenland coast in the far northwest of West Northern Section until 090800UTC, and also within 50 miles of the Greenland coast to the west of 26 west in Denmark Strait between 090000UTC and 091600UTC.

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming easterly or northeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 for a time within 50 miles of the greenland coast, but becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9 for a time elsewhere.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming mainly rough or very rough, but becoming high for a time in south.
Weather
Fair, then rain, sleet or snow for a time, then further snow again later in far west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor or very poor for a time, then occasionally very poor again later in far west. Light or moderate icing developing for a time within 100 miles of the greenland coast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe or very severe icing developing for a time in west, mainly near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

North Iceland

In area to the north of 70 north

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in north and east, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, then becoming variable 2 to 4 again, and then becoming southeasterly 5 to 7 later in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, but becoming very rough for a time in east.
Weather
Snow for a time, then further snow later in southwest.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Moderate or severe icing for a time, with temperatures ms06 to ms09, then further light or moderate icing later in southwest, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

In area to the south of 70 north

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times in north but rain or sleet at times in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at first in northwest, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in east but becoming variable 2 to 4 in northwest.
Sea state
Rough, becoming moderate in south and west.
Weather
Wintry showers, then rain or sleet for a time in northwest.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storm force winds expected in West Central Section. Severe gales expected in north Iceland. Gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section and Denmark Strait.

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.