Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 181200UTC, low 57 north 35 west 1010 expected 62 north 24 west 1002 by 191200UTC. Low 67 north 10 west 1007 losing its identity by same time. High 47 north 26 west 1029 dissipating by that time. at 181200UTC, high 68 north 29 west 1026 dissipating by 191200UTC

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 18 May 2024 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 19 May 2024.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind: North or northwest 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, backing southeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, veering southeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly veering easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far west.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in northeast, otherwise, cyclonic 5 to 7, increasing 7 or gale 8 in north, occasionally severe gale 9 later in north.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Southwesterly veering northwesterly later in west, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, veering northwesterly later in south, 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6 at first in southeast, otherwise northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain at first and again later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first and again later.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

West Central Section

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly veering northerly or northwesterly, later in east, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good. Light icing later in north with temperatures of minus 02 to minus 04.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly easterly or southeasterly later in south and northwesterly later in north, 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or snow at first in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in south.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later, except in far southeast.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in north.
Weather: Occasional rain at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate at first.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms are expected in Denmark Strait. Storms are expected in West Northern Section. Severe gales are expected in north Iceland. Gales are expected in Southeast 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.