Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 190000UTC, low Irish Sea 993 expected Forties 1001 by 200000UTC. Low Fisher 993 losing its identity by same time. Low 41 north 16 west 1010 expected southern Biscay 1000 by that time. at 190000UTC, high 48 north 35 west 1030 expected 46 north 29 west with little change by 200000UTC. Low 67 north 12 west 1022 expected northern Norway 1020 by same time. New lows expected 75 north 01 west 1003 and 51 north 49 west 998 by that time. at 190000UTC, high southern Greenland 1031 expected eastern Greenland 1022 by 200000UTC.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 19 Oct 2019.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 19 Oct 2019 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 20 Oct 2019.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northwesterly, veering northerly, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally moderate in east.
Weather: Occasional rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: North 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: North 5 to 7, veering northeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: Northeast 5 to 7, backing northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Northeast 6 to gale 8, backing northwest 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, backing westerly 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7 at first in southeast, otherwise variable 4 or less, becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 except in southeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally slight in north.
Weather: Mainly fair.
Visibility: Good.

West Northern Section

Wind: Variable 4 or less at first in southeast, otherwise westerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, backing southerly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in central areas.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough or very rough in southwest.
Weather: Fair, then rain spreading east.
Visibility: Good becoming moderate or poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, becoming variable 4 or less in west, then southwesterly 5 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate in west.
Weather: Showers in east, fair in west.
Visibility: Good.

West Central Section

Wind: Northerly 3 to 5, becoming variable 4 or less in east, otherwise southerly 4 to 6, backing southeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming very rough in west.
Weather: Mainly fair, but rain later in northwest.
Visibility: Good becoming moderate or poor in northwest.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Southwesterly 4 to 6, veering northeasterly in north, becoming variable 4 or less later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair, but rain or sleet later in far southwest.
Visibility: Good, becoming moderate or poor later in far southwest.

North Iceland

Wind: Anticyclonic 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 in north, occasionally gale 8 later in far north.
Sea state: Rough in southeast, otherwise slight or moderate becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Mainly fair but occasional snow in far north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, but poor or very poor in far north. Moderate to severe icing in far north with temperatures ms03 to ms08 and light icing later in northeast with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming variable 4 or less later in west.
Sea state: Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms expected in Denmark Strait, with severe gales expected in East Northern Section. Gales expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland, West Northern Section, West Central Section and north Iceland.

Unscheduled storm warnings are broadcast via Safetynet and in bulletin WONT54 EGRR available via some internet and ftpmail outlets

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.

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.