Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 200000UTC, low 69 north 65 west 979 expected 69 north 43 west 972 by 210000UTC. Low 69 north 25 west 1015 losing its identity by same time. High 52 north 19 west 1043 expected 52 north 07 west with little change by that time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 20 Jan 2022.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 20 Jan 2022 to 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 21 Jan 2022.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: East or northeast 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Variable 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Rockall

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming southwest 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Bailey

Wind: West or northwest 4 or 5, backing southwest 5 or 6.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Faeroes

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 5 to 7 later, perhaps gale 8 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good.

East Northern Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in far southeast, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, increasing 6 to gale 8 in west and later in north, occasionally severe gale 9 later in west.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, then high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain in far north and later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 20 Jan 2022

At 200000UTC, low 69 north 65 west 979 expected 69 north 43 west 972 by 210000UTC. Southwesterly winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the northwest of the West Northern Section from 210000UTC.

Wind: Southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 to violent storm 11 later in northwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high, occasionally very high later in northwest.
Weather: Rain or drizzle, with fog patches at first, squally wintry showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor at first. Light icing later in far northwest.

East Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in northeast, otherwise southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in northwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough later in far northwest.
Weather: Fog patches at first, rain later in west.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first and poor later in west.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, then variable 2 to 4 later in southwest.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain, mainly fair later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7 at first in far southwest, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough, occasionally high later in south.
Weather: Rain, sleet or snow.
Visibility: Moderate to very poor, becoming moderate or good later. Occasional light or moderate icing near ice edge with temperatures ms02 to ms04.

North Iceland

Wind: Northwesterly 4 to 6 at first in east, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Fair at first in north, otherwise rain and snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor, becoming moderate to very poor. Occasional light to moderate icing with temperatures ms02 to ms04, becoming widespread for a time later in northeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

Wind: Westerly or southwesterly 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9, backing westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 later in east.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Snow showers, rain later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in West Northern Section. Storms expected in East Northern Section, Denmark Strait and north Iceland. Gales expected in West Central 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.