Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 021200UTC low 61 north 39 west 975 expected 60 north 38 west by 031200UTC. Low 63 north 29 west losing its identity by same time. Low 44 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 30 west by that time. at 021200UTC high 71 north 25 west 1022 slow moving with little change by 031200UTC.
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 5 or 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwest 5 to 7.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or southwest, backing south, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Bailey
- Wind
- West backing south or southwest 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming westerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming high for a time.
- Weather
- Occasional rain.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
East Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 021200UTC low 61 north 39 west 975 expected 60 north 38 west by 031200UTC. Storm force 10 to hurricane force 12 northeasterly winds expected in Denmark Strait and the northwest of West Northern Section. Storm force easterly winds expected in the south of north Iceland until 03/0600UTC. Low 44 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 30 west by that time. Storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 southerly winds expected in East Northern Section, the west of East Central Section, West Central Section and the south of West Northern Section. Storm force westerly winds expected in southwest West Northern Section and northwest West Central Section by 030600 UTC.
- Wind
- Southwesterly gale 8 or severe gale 9 backing southerly or southeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first, sleet or snow later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor, becoming poor or very poor.
In north
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 then southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first, sleet or snow later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor, becoming poor or very poor.
In south
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 021200UTC low 61 north 39 west 975 expected 60 north 38 west by 031200UTC. Storm force 10 to hurricane force 12 northeasterly winds expected in Denmark Strait and the northwest of West Northern Section. Storm force easterly winds expected in the south of north Iceland until 03/0600UTC. Low 44 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 30 west by that time. Storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 southerly winds expected in East Northern Section, the west of East Central Section, West Central Section and the south of West Northern Section. Storm force westerly winds expected in southwest West Northern Section and northwest West Central Section by 030600 UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic gale 8 to storm 10 becoming southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7 then cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high becoming very high later.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first, sleet or snow later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor, becoming poor or very poor.
In northeast
- Wind
- Southwesterly 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, then westerly or southwesterly gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at first, snow showers later.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor becoming good, occasionally very poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7 becoming cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming westerly or southwesterly later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming very high for a time.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow at first, snow showers later.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor becoming good, occasionally very poor. Midday icing, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.
In southwest
- Wind
- Northeasterly storm 10 to hurricane force 12, becoming cyclonic later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high later.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first, sleet or snow later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor, becoming poor or very poor. Severe icing, with temperatures ms06 to ms10.
In northwest
East Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 021200UTC low 61 north 39 west 975 expected 60 north 38 west by 031200UTC. Storm force 10 to hurricane force 12 northeasterly winds expected in Denmark Strait and the northwest of West Northern Section. Storm force easterly winds expected in the south of north Iceland until 03/0600UTC. Low 44 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 30 west by that time. Storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 southerly winds expected in East Northern Section, the west of East Central Section, West Central Section and the south of West Northern Section. Storm force westerly winds expected in southwest West Northern Section and northwest West Central Section by 030600 UTC.
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.
In east
- Wind
- Southerly 6 to gale 8 increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, veering westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good, occasionally poor.
In west
West Central Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 021200UTC low 61 north 39 west 975 expected 60 north 38 west by 031200UTC. Storm force 10 to hurricane force 12 northeasterly winds expected in Denmark Strait and the northwest of West Northern Section. Storm force easterly winds expected in the south of north Iceland until 03/0600UTC. Low 44 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 30 west by that time. Storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 southerly winds expected in East Northern Section, the west of East Central Section, West Central Section and the south of West Northern Section. Storm force westerly winds expected in southwest West Northern Section and northwest West Central Section by 030600 UTC.
- Wind
- Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 becoming westerly gale 8 to storm 10.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough at first.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good, occasionally poor. Moderate icing, with temperatures ms03 to ms05.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 becoming westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor becoming good, occasionally poor.
In south
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 021200UTC low 61 north 39 west 975 expected 60 north 38 west by 031200UTC. Storm force 10 to hurricane force 12 northeasterly winds expected in Denmark Strait and the northwest of West Northern Section. Storm force easterly winds expected in the south of north Iceland until 03/0600UTC. Low 44 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 30 west by that time. Storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 southerly winds expected in East Northern Section, the west of East Central Section, West Central Section and the south of West Northern Section. Storm force westerly winds expected in southwest West Northern Section and northwest West Central Section by 030600 UTC.
- Wind
- Northeasterly storm 10 to hurricane force 12.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, occasionally very high later in south.
- Weather
- Snow showers, then sleet or snow later in south.
- Visibility
- Good occasionally very poor, becoming poor or very poor later in south. Severe icing, with temperatures ms06 to ms10.
North Iceland
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 021200UTC low 61 north 39 west 975 expected 60 north 38 west by 031200UTC. Storm force 10 to hurricane force 12 northeasterly winds expected in Denmark Strait and the northwest of West Northern Section. Storm force easterly winds expected in the south of north Iceland until 03/0600UTC. Low 44 north 45 west 987 expected 61 north 30 west by that time. Storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 southerly winds expected in East Northern Section, the west of East Central Section, West Central Section and the south of West Northern Section. Storm force westerly winds expected in southwest West Northern Section and northwest West Central Section by 030600 UTC.
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 or 5 veering easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, moderate or rough, becoming very rough for a time.
- Sea state
- Snow showers.
- Weather
- Good, occasionally very poor.
In north
- Wind
- Easterly gale 8 to storm 10 veering southeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Snow showers at first, sleet or snow later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally very poor at first, becoming poor or very poor later.
In south
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Southeasterly 4 or 5 backing northeasterly 5 to 7, veering southerly or southeasterly later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in east.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In north
- Wind
- Southeasterly becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, becoming northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7 then veering southerly or southeasterly later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In south
Outlook for following 24 hours
Storms or violent storms, occasionally hurricane force winds at first, expected in Denmark Strait and the northwest of West Northern Section. Storms or violent storms expected in the east of West Northern Section, and East Northern Section, severe gales or storms expected in the north of East Central Section and the north of West Central Section. Gales or severe gales expected in north Iceland. Gales expected in Norwegian Basin, Rockall, Bailey, Hebrides, Faeroes and 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.