Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 041200UTC, low 53 north 24 west 980, expected 55 north, 18 west 968 by 051200UTC. New low expected 71 north 02 west 1014 by same time.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020 to 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 Apr 2020.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: South or southeast veering southwest later, 6 to gale 8, occasionally 5 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Rockall

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Bailey

Wind: South or southeast 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming very rough or high.
Weather: Rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally 4 at first, becoming south 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020

At 041200UTC, low 53 north 24 west 980, expected 55 north, 18 west 968 by 051200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 in the northwestern quadrant of the low in East Northern Section and Denmark Strait throughout.

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, increasing storm 10 or violent storm 11 in west, becoming cyclonic later and decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Rain and snow.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020

At 041200UTC, low 53 north 24 west 980, expected 55 north, 18 west 968 by 051200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 in the northwestern quadrant of the low in East Northern Section and Denmark Strait throughout.

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in north.
Weather: Rain at times, with snow in north.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in north. Light icing at times in far north.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in north.
Weather: Snow or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor or very poor. Light to moderate icing in far north and northwest.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming mainly westerly 6 to gale 8, perhaps severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain, fog patches.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, backing westerly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Apr 2020

At 041200UTC, low 53 north 24 west 980, expected 55 north, 18 west 968 by 051200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 to violent storm force 11 in the northwestern quadrant of the low in East Northern Section and Denmark Strait throughout.

Wind: Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor. Severe icing with temperatures ms08 to ms10.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly easterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in south.
Weather: Rain and snow with fog patches in south, snow showers in north.
Visibility: Moderate or poor occasionally very poor in south. Moderate to severe icing becoming widespread with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly veering southerly 6 to gale 8, decreasing 5 for a time.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Hurricane force winds expected in Denmark Strait. Storms or violent storms expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section and north Iceland. Gales or severe gales expected in all other areas.

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.