Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 171200UTC, low 56 north 32 west 990 expected 59 north 29 west 980 by 181200UTC. Low 48 north 40 west 981 expected 48 north 29 west 989 by same time. Low 47 north 24 west 990 expected 57 north 15 west 984 by that time. at 171200UTC, high 71 north 28 west 1040 slow-moving, declining 1037 by 181200UTC. Low 56 north 09 west 1008 losing its identity

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 17 Oct 2021.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 17 Oct 2021 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 18 Oct 2021.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: South 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate, becoming rough in west.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later.

Shannon

Wind: Southeast veering south 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Southeast veering south 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southeast 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in west.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, veering southeasterly 4 to 6 for a time in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, but high in far west.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7.
Sea state: Rough, but very rough in far west.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 17 Oct 2021

At 171200UTC, low 56 north 32 west 990 expected 59 north 29 west 980 by 181200UTC. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 to the west of 23 west in Denmark Strait and in the northwestern half of West Northern Section throughout the period. The wind increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 180400UTC onwards.

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Poor or very poor.

Wind: Cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic becoming southwesterly 6 to gale 8, then becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 later in west.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in far west.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in far northwest, becoming northerly or northwesterly later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming high in far northwest.
Weather: Fog patches at first in north, otherwise rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in north.

Denmark Strait

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 17 Oct 2021

At 171200UTC, low 56 north 32 west 990 expected 59 north 29 west 980 by 181200UTC. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 to the west of 23 west in Denmark Strait and in the northwestern half of West Northern Section throughout the period. The wind increasing violent storm force 11 at times from 180400UTC onwards.

Wind: Northeasterly severe gale gale 8 to storm 10, occasionally violent storm 11 in west.
Sea state: Very rough or high, occasionally very high in west.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor in west. Slight icing at times near to greenland, with temperatures ms02 or ms03.

Wind: Northerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Snow at first.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor at first. Slight icing at times in far south, with temperatures ms03 or ms04.

North Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough, occasionally very rough in south and west.
Weather: Occasional rain or sleet.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional snow.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Northwesterly 5 or 6 at first in far northeast, otherwise variable 2 to 4, becoming easterly or southeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, rain later in southwest.
Visibility: Good, occasionally moderate later in southwest.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms expected in Southeast Iceland, West Central Section, both northern sections and Denmark Strait, with violent storms likely in West Northern Section. Severe gales expected in north Iceland. Gales also expected in Bailey, Faeroes, East Central Section and Norwegian Basin.

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.