Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 180000UTC, low 55 north 43 west 1014 expected 58 north 30 west 1006 by 190000UTC. High 46 north 26 west 1029 expected 48 north 22 west 1024 by same time. Low 66 north 15 west 1010 losing its identity

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 May 2024.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: North or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Rough at first in west, otherwise moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: North 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming slight or moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5 at first in south, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, becoming variable 3 or less for a time.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, veering easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 2 to 4, increasing 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in north and east.
Sea state: Moderate becoming rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches until later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, becoming very poor at times until later.

East Central Section

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in southeast, otherwise southerly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain and snow at first in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in east. Light icing at first in east with temperatures of minus 02 to minus 04.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in west with temperatures of minus 03 to minus 05.

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8, becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in west with temperatures of minus 03 to minus 05.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms expected in Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in West Northern Section. Gales expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section and north Iceland.

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.