Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 080000UTC, low 49 north 43 west 957 expected 52 north 43 west 949 by 090000UTC. Low 56 north 16 west 970 expected 56 north 08 west 986 by same time. New low expected 56 north 23 west 977 by that time. at 080000UTC, high 68 north 36 west 1022 expected 73 north 33 west 1016 by 090000UTC

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 9 Dec 2023.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: West or southwest backing south or southwest, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Squally showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: West 7 to severe gale 9, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 for a time.
Sea state: High, becoming very rough later.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south and 4 in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Very rough or high becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High at first in southwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly mainly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first, but 4 or 5 throughout in far northwest.
Sea state: Mainly very rough or high, but moderate or rough in far northwest.
Weather: Showers, but fair in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, but good in far northwest.

Wind: Cyclonic mainly 6 to gale 8, but 3 to 5 at first in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough in east.
Weather: Showers then rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

West Northern Section

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south and west, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later in south.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough in far north.
Weather: Rain at times, with occasional sleet or snow at first in far northwest, but mainly fair in far northeast.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first in far northwest, then becoming good in far north.

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in northeast, otherwise cyclonic becoming westerly or southwesterly, 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or showers, squally and thundery at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 8 Dec 2023

At 080000UTC, low 49 north 43 west 957 expected 52 north 43 west 949 by 090000UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 between 47 north and 52 north in the far west of West Central Section between 081000UTC and 090800UTC. Also easterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times to the north of 53 north in the western half of West Central Section until 081400UTC.

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9 at first in north, occasionally storm 10 at first in northwest, otherwise southwesterly, becoming cyclonic later in northwest, 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 at times in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming high or very high in west.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, occasionally thundery, and also wintry at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Very rough at first in southwest, otherwise moderate or rough in west and slight or moderate in east.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow, but becoming fair in west.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly veering easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in west, rough or very rough in east.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in northwest, moderate or rough in southeast.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far southwest, decreasing 3 at times elsewhere.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in far southwest, but elsewhere moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers in north, rain or sleet at times in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in East Central Section. Storms expected in West Central Section, mainly in the far southeast. Severe gales expected in Shannon and Rockall. Gales expected in Sole, Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section and West Northern 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.