Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 270000UTC, low 42 north 09 west 998 expected 49 north 02 west 995 by 280000UTC. New low expected 57 north 17 west 1005 by same time. Low 48 north 08 west loses its identity by that time. at 270000UTC high 41 north 38 west 1029 expected 39 north 29 west 1028 by 280000UTC. Low 61 north 53 west 997 loses its identity by same time. New low 63 north 39 west 1010 by that time.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 27 Apr 2024.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 27 Apr 2024 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 28 Apr 2024.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: North 5 to 7, backing northwest 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: North 3 to 5, backing west or northwest later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: North 3 to 5, becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming mainly moderate later.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4 at first, becoming southeast 4 to 6.
Sea state: Mainly moderate, but occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in north, becoming east or southeast later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, occasionally 7 or perhaps gale 8 later in northeast, variable 2 to 4 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in east.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wind: Northwesterly 4 or 5, becoming cyclonic later in east.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough.
Weather: Showers or rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally variable 3 or less in east, increasing 6 to gale 8 later in far northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming mainly moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, but sleet and snow in far northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, but moderate, occasionally very poor in far northwest. Light icing later in far northwest.

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first, becoming mainly fair later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

East Central Section

Wind: Northerly backing westerly or northwesterly, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

West Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northwesterly, 3 to 5 later in north, but westerly or southwesterly, 3 to 5 later in south.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough later in far north.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches at first.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later in south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks near the ice, occasional sleet or snow in far southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light icing in southwest with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

North Iceland

Wind: South or southwest 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming mainly slight.
Weather: Fog banks and drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light to moderate icing until later near the ice in far northwest with temperatures ms 02 to ms 04.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches and drizzle.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far south, occasionally 3 later.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough at first.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet, then wintry showers, fog patches in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor, occasionally very poor in north.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: East or southeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally slight later.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fair.
Visibility: Good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Gales expected in West Northern Section and East 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.