Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 250000UTC high 48 north 34 west 1035 expected 41 north 38 west 1030 by 260000UTC. Low 59 north 32 west 1006 expected 49 north 19 west 1002 by same time. Low 59 north 05 east 1004 expected 54 north 09 east 998 by that time. at 250000UTC low 67 north 10 east 1006 expected 65 north 02 east 1003 by 260000UTC. Lows 59 north 19 west 1010 and 53 north 13 east 1003 loosing their identities by same time. New high expected 54 north 34 1028 west by that time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 25 Apr 2024 to 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 26 Apr 2024.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 or 7 for a time in west, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind: Northwesterly 2 to 4, but 6 to gale 8 at first in west, veering northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, but slight at first in east.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Rockall

Wind: In southwest, northwesterly 2 to 4, but 6 to gale 8 at first in west, veering northeast 4 to 6 later . in northeast, northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: In southwest, moderate or rough. in northeast, slight or moderate, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: In southwest, occasional rain. in northeast, occasional rain.
Visibility: In southwest, good, occasionally moderate. in northeast, good, occasionally moderate.

Bailey

Wind: Northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming mainly rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Sight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, then backing northerly or northwesterly later, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northerly or northeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain and snow at first, fair later.
Visibility: Moderate occasionally poor, becoming good.

West Northern Section

Wind: Variable, becoming cyclonic later, 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fog patches at first in west, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Poor or very poor at first in far west, other moderate or good.

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in south, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Fair, but occasional rain at first in far east and later in far west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in west.

East Central Section

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, then becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
Weather: Occasional rain, perhaps wintry at first in north, mainly fair later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Westerly, veering northerly or northwest, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, veering southeasterly 3 to 5 later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Mainly fair, but occasional rain at first in far northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair, occasional rain later in north, moderate or good, occasionally poor later in north.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later in far south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks, expect far southeast at first.
Visibility: Poor or very poor, but good in far southeast at first.

North Iceland

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northeasterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Smooth or slight, becoming slight or moderate later.
Weather: Fog banks becoming mainly fair.
Visibility: Poor or very poor at first, otherwise good.

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair, occasional rain later.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Northerly 4 or 5, but variable 3 or less at first in east, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, occasionally rough later in far west.
Weather: Showers occasionally wintry.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Gales expected in East 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.