High seas forecast and storm warnings

Storm warnings

• Storm warnings have been issued for the areas coloured in red on the map below
• Click on an area to see the high seas forecast and any storm warnings for that area

Updated: 0803 UTC on Tue 16 Mar 2010

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.

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You are using a mobile device. Below are the text versions of the high seas forecast storm warnings.

The high seas forecast issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, on Tuesday 16 March 2010 at 0800 UTC

There are storm warnings in West Central Section.

The General synopsis

At 160000 UTC, low 52 north 41 west 980, moving steadily east, losing its identity by 170000 UTC. Low 47 north 25 west 992 expected 57 north 31 west 976 by same time. Lows 67 north 19 west 1011 and 69 north 34 west 1011 both losing their identities by that time. at 160000 UTC, high 72 north 20 west 1021, slow moving with little change by 170000 UTC

The area forecasts for the next 24 hours from Tuesday 16 March 2010 at 0800 UTC

Sole

Wind:

Southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in west, veering southerly or southwesterly 4 or 5.

Sea State:

Rough or very rough.

Weather:

Rain.

Visibility:

Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind:

South or southeast 6 to gale 8.

Sea State:

Rough or very rough.

Weather:

Rain.

Visibility:

Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind:

South or southeast 6 to gale 8.

Sea State:

Rough or very rough.

Weather:

Rain.

Visibility:

Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind:

South or southwest 4 or 5, increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later.

Sea State:

Moderate becoming rough or very rough.

Weather:

Rain.

Visibility:

Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind:

Westerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 later in south.

Sea State:

Moderate or rough.

Weather:

Rain.

Visibility:

Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind:

Westerly or southwesterly, backing southeasterly later, 4 or 5, increasing 6 later in south.

Sea State:

Moderate or rough.

Weather:

Rain.

Visibility:

Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

 In northeast

Wind:

Southerly 4 or 5, backing easterly 5 to 7.

Sea State:

Moderate becoming rough.

Weather:

Rain or drizzle.

Visibility:

Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

East Northern Section

 In northwest

Wind:

Easterly backing northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far northwest.

Sea State:

Moderate becoming rough or very rough.

Weather:

Rain or drizzle.

Visibility:

Moderate or poor.

East Northern Section

 In southeast

Wind:

Southeasterly veering southwesterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 for a time in far southeast.

Sea State:

Very rough.

Weather:

Rain or showers.

Visibility:

Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

 In southwest

Wind:

Southwesterly backing southerly 6 to gale 8.

Sea State:

Very rough.

Weather:

Rain or showers.

Visibility:

Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

 In northwest

Wind:

Northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 or severe gale 9.

Sea State:

Moderate becoming very rough or high.

Weather:

Mainly fair, then rain, with snow developing in far northwest.

Visibility:

Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in far northwest. Moderate or severe icing developing in far northwest.

West Northern Section

 In southeast

Wind:

Easterly or southeasterly, becoming cyclonic, 5 to 7, decreasing 3 or 4 at times.

Sea State:

Rough or very rough.

Weather:

Rain or showers, with fog patches developing.

Visibility:

Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

 In northeast

Wind:

Southeasterly veering southwesterly 6 to gale 8.

Sea State:

Very rough.

Weather:

Rain or squally showers.

Visibility:

Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

 In southwest

Wind:

Southwesterly backing southerly 6 to gale 8.

Sea State:

Very rough.

Weather:

Squally showers, then rain or drizzle.

Visibility:

Good, becoming moderate or poor.

West Central Section

 In south

Wind:

Westerly backing southwesterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 or storm 10 for a time, then veering northwesterly 5 to 7 later in west.

Sea State:

Very rough becoming high for a time.

Weather:

Rain or squally showers, wintry at first.

Visibility:

Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

 In rest of region

Wind:

Cyclonic 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6 at times.

Sea State:

Rough or very rough.

Weather:

Rain or showers, with fog patches.

Visibility:

Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind:

Northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, increasing 7 to severe gale 9.

Sea State:

Moderate becoming very rough in south, otherwise slight becoming moderate or rough.

Weather:

Occasional snow, with rain or sleet developing later near Iceland.

Visibility:

Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Severe or very severe icing developing, with temperatures ms05 to ms08.

North Iceland

Wind:

Mainly easterly or southeasterly 4 or 5 at first, backing northeasterly 6 to gale 8, but decreasing 3 or 4 later in far southeast.

Sea State:

Moderate, becoming rough in west.

Weather:

Occasional snow, with rain or sleet and fog patches developing later in far southeast.

Visibility:

Moderate or good, occasionally poor, but occasionally very poor later in far southeast. Light or moderate icing developing, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Norwegian Basin

 In northwest

Wind:

Northeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 at times.

Sea State:

Moderate.

Weather:

Occasional snow, otherwise mainly fair.

Visibility:

Good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

 In southwest

Wind:

Cyclonic becoming southeasterly 3 or 4, increasing 5 or 6.

Sea State:

Moderate.

Weather:

Mainly fair, then rain or drizzle, with snow developing later.

Visibility:

Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

 In east

Wind:

Northeasterly 3 or 4, occasionally 5 at first, becoming variable 3 or less later in southeast.

Sea State:

Moderate.

Weather:

Snow showers.

Visibility:

Good, occasionally very poor.

Sea area gale warnings, issued by the Met Office, on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Last updated on Tuesday 16 March 2010 at 0959.

All gale warnings currently in force

Trafalgar, issued on Monday 15 March 2010 at 1554
     Easterly gale force 8 continuing

Fitzroy, issued on Monday 15 March 2010 at 2142
     Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Sole, issued on Monday 15 March 2010 at 2142
     Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Shannon, issued on Monday 15 March 2010 at 1554
     Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Rockall, issued on Monday 15 March 2010 at 1554
     Southeasterly gale force 8 expected later

Malin, issued on Tuesday 16 March 2010 at 0955
     Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Hebrides, issued on Tuesday 16 March 2010 at 0955
     Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon

Bailey, issued on Tuesday 16 March 2010 at 0955
     Southeasterly gale force 8 expected soon