Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 161200UTC, low 61 north 16 west 932, expected 65 north 06 east 958 by 171200UTC. Low 67 north 07 west 946 losing its identity by same time. New low expected 63 north 38 west 982 by that time.

Issued at: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 16 Feb 2020.

For the period 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 16 Feb 2020 to 20:00 (UTC) on Mon 17 Feb 2020.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 16 Feb 2020

At 161200UTC, low 61 north 16 west 932, expected 65 north 06 east 958 by 171200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in sea areas Sole, Shannon, Rockall and Bailey until 170600UTC.

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 for a time, then decreasing 6 at times later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Shannon

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 16 Feb 2020

At 161200UTC, low 61 north 16 west 932, expected 65 north 06 east 958 by 171200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in sea areas Sole, Shannon, Rockall and Bailey until 170600UTC.

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Thundery wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Rockall

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 16 Feb 2020

At 161200UTC, low 61 north 16 west 932, expected 65 north 06 east 958 by 171200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in sea areas Sole, Shannon, Rockall and Bailey until 170600UTC.

Wind: West or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Thundery wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Bailey

High seas storm warning: Issued: 20:00 (UTC) on Sun 16 Feb 2020

At 161200UTC, low 61 north 16 west 932, expected 65 north 06 east 958 by 171200UTC. Winds will reach storm force 10 in sea areas Sole, Shannon, Rockall and Bailey until 170600UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic 4 at first in north, otherwise west or southwest 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 until later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Thundery wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Southerly 4 to 6, veering westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in south, but cyclonic 3 for a time in north.
Sea state: High or very high, occasionally very rough.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good in north.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6, decreasing 3 for a time.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Mainly westerly but cyclonic at times in north, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Mainly westerly but cyclonic at times in north, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Showers, wintry in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind: Westerly 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: High or very high.
Weather: Showers, wintry in north.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 until later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Outbreaks of snow.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally very poor. Moderate to severe icing in northeast with temperatures ms05 to ms07.

North Iceland

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 in southeast.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Outbreaks of snow, but rain or sleet in southeast.
Visibility: Moderate, occasionally poor or very poor. Moderate to severe, occasionally very severe icing later north of 71 north with temperatures ms12 to ms14.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Wintry showers.
Visibility: Good occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Gales or severe gales are expected in all 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.