Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 181200UTC, low 64 north 26 west 975, slow moving, filling 979 by 191200UTC. Low 41 north 31 west 1009 expected 44 north 18 west 1002 by same time. New low expected 54 north 48 west 986 by that time. Low 55 north 17 west 984 moving northeast and losing its identity around Iceland.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Southwest 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, decreasing 3 or 4.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
South or southeast 6 to gale 8 veering west or northwest 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind
South or southeast 6 to gale 8 veering west or northwest 4 to 6, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind
South or southeast veering west or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
South or southeast veering west or northwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
South or southeast veering west or northwest 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 181200UTC, low 64 north 26 west 975, slow moving, filling 979 by 191200UTC. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the east of 32 west in Denmark Strait throughout the period and also throughout the period in that part of sea area north Iceland that lies both west of 15 west and south of 70 north. Hurricane force 12 can be expected close to the ice edge at times in Denmark Strait. Storm force winds can also be expected to the south of the low centre within 100nm until 191500UTC.

In east

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming high in north.
Weather
Rain then wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In west

Wind
Cyclonic mainly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far northwest, but 4 to 6 in south.
Sea state
Very rough or high, but rough in south.
Weather
Rain, snow or squally sleet and snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

In south

Wind
Southwesterly at first in east, otherwise northwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then backing westerly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain at first in east, otherwise showers, turning to sleet or snow.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 181200UTC, low 64 north 26 west 975, slow moving, filling 979 by 191200UTC. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the east of 32 west in Denmark Strait throughout the period and also throughout the period in that part of sea area north Iceland that lies both west of 15 west and south of 70 north. Hurricane force 12 can be expected close to the ice edge at times in Denmark Strait. Storm force winds can also be expected to the south of the low centre within 100nm until 191500UTC.

In east

Wind
Northwesterly or cyclonic, 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in far north, but 4 to 6 in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in north.
Weather
Sleet, snow or squally wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor. Light or moderate icing in north.

In west

Wind
Cyclonic 4 to 6, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later in south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow showers, rain later in south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

In south

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far northeast, backing westerly 4 or 5 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

East Central Section

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 or gale 8 later in far southeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

West Central Section

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Fair then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 181200UTC, low 64 north 26 west 975, slow moving, filling 979 by 191200UTC. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the east of 32 west in Denmark Strait throughout the period and also throughout the period in that part of sea area north Iceland that lies both west of 15 west and south of 70 north. Hurricane force 12 can be expected close to the ice edge at times in Denmark Strait. Storm force winds can also be expected to the south of the low centre within 100nm until 191500UTC.

Wind
Northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10, increasing violent storm 11 at times except in far west, and occasionally hurricane force 12 near the ice edge in east.
Sea state
High or very high.
Weather
Snow or snow showers.
Visibility
Poor or very poor. Widespread light or moderate icing, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing at times within 100 miles of the ice edge, with temperatures here ms07 to ms10.

North Iceland

High seas storm warning
Issued:

At 181200UTC, low 64 north 26 west 975, slow moving, filling 979 by 191200UTC. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 to the east of 32 west in Denmark Strait throughout the period and also throughout the period in that part of sea area north Iceland that lies both west of 15 west and south of 70 north. Hurricane force 12 can be expected close to the ice edge at times in Denmark Strait. Storm force winds can also be expected to the south of the low centre within 100nm until 191500UTC.

In southeast of the area as far north as 69 north

Wind
Cyclonic mainly southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 or gale 8 later in south.
Sea state
Rough becoming very rough.
Weather
Rain at times, fog banks.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in far southeast.

In the rest of the area

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly, mainly 5 to 7 in north and mainly 7 to severe gale 9 in south, but severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 in southwest.
Sea state
Mainly very rough or high, but moderate or rough in far north.
Weather
Snow or snow showers.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good in north. Widespread light or moderate icing, with temperatures ms03 to ms06, but severe or very severe icing at times within 50 miles of the ice edge, with temperatures here ms07 to ms10.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Southerly or southeasterly mainly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, but 5 at first in west, and in northeast, southeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in northeast.
Weather
Rain or drizzle, with fog patches in west, but mainly fair in northeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in northeast, and becoming very poor at times in west.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms or violent storms expected in Denmark Strait. Storms expected in sea area north Iceland. Gales or severe gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, East Central Section, West Central Section and Norwegian Basin.

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.