Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 211200UTC, low 64 north 27 west 997 expected 65 north 25 west 1003 by 221200UTC. Low 68 north 16 west 1007 expected 72 north 11 west 1006 by same time. High 47 north 28 west 1027 expected 45 north 20 west 1028 by that time. New low expected 52 north 38 west 1005 by 221200UTC. New high expected 62 north 38 west 1017 by same time. Low 52 north 14 west 1011 losing its identity

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 May 2024.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Tue 21 May 2024 to 20:00 (UTC) on Wed 22 May 2024.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later. in west, northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first.
Sea state: In east, slight or moderate becoming rough. in west, rough or very rough.
Weather: In east, showers, perhaps thundery. in west, rain then showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. in west, moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first except in northwest, otherwise northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: In east, variable 2 to 4 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6. in west, northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 3 or 4 later.
Sea state: In east, moderate or rough. in west, rough at first in south, otherwise moderate.
Weather: In east, rain or showers, perhaps thundery. in west, rain then showers.
Visibility: In east, good, occasionally poor. in west, good, occasionally poor at first.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Rain and fog patches at first in east, otherwise showers.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor at first in east, otherwise good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or showers, wintry in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in far northwest.

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6 at first in far southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers, then occasional rain in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor in west.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in far north, veering northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Rain, sleet or wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 until later in east and south, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Rough or very rough until later in east and south, otherwise slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in west.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Rain, fog patches later in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first in south and very poor later in south.

East Central Section

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far east, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough at first in far east, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers then fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in far west.
Weather: Fair then rain at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

West Central Section

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in west and later in east, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers, fog patches, mainly in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor in northwest.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first and 5 later, but becoming variable 2 to 4 within 50 miles of greenland to the south of 70 north.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Sleet, snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing within 50 miles of greenland in east, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far northwest, otherwise cyclonic mainly northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough at first in west.
Weather: Sleet, snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Good at first in north, otherwise moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8 at first in north, otherwise cyclonic, becoming mainly southwesterly later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in north, moderate throughout in south.
Weather: Snow at first in north, otherwise rain or drizzle at times, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain developing, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming slight.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Severe gales expected in north Iceland. Gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section 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.