Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 071200UTC, low 64 north 26 west 998 expected 74 north 07 west 1004 by 081200UTC. Low 62 north 36 west 1002 expected 68 north 24 west 1007 by same time. New lows expected 58 north 53 west 967 and 57 north 16 west 1015 by that time. at 071200UTC, low 49 north 22 west 1013 expected 51 north 15 west 1011 by 081200UTC

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 in east but cyclonic 5 to 7 in west.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far west.
Weather
Showers then rain.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind
Southeasterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 5 to 7 in southwest, perhaps gale 8 later in southwest.
Sea state
Moderate or rough, becoming very rough later in far southwest.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind
South or southeast 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first and 3 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind
South 6 to gale 8 becoming cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather
Rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind
In east, southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 3 later. in west, southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
In east, rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later. in west, high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Fair then showers.
Visibility
In east, moderate or good. in west, moderate or poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind
In east, southerly 6 to gale 8, veering southwesterly 4 to 6 later. in west, southwesterly 5 or 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time.
Sea state
In east, high, becoming rough or very rough. in west, very rough or high, becoming rough later.
Weather
In east, fair then showers. in west, rain or sleet.
Visibility
In east, moderate or poor. in west, moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

In northeast

Wind
Southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then westerly or northwesterly 3 to 5 later.
Sea state
High at first in east, otherwise very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather
Rain, sleet or snow at times.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, occasionally good later.

In northwest

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 becoming southerly or southwesterly 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 again later, but then becoming southerly 5 or 6 later in southwest.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

In southeast

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first, becoming northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Very rough, becoming rough later.
Weather
Rain, becoming fair later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In southwest

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 5 to 7 becoming northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4 again later, then becoming southerly 5 or 6 later in west.
Sea state
Very rough becoming rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow for a time at first.
Visibility
Moderate to very poor, becoming good.

West Northern Section

In area to the south of 60 north

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise westerly 4 to 6 backing southerly or southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 except in far east.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Snow showers then fair, then rain or snow later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first, then becoming poor or very poor later in west.

In far northwest

Wind
Northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, then increasing 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Moderate or rough.
Weather
Snow later.
Visibility
Good, becoming poor or very poor later. Light or moderate icing at times, but becoming moderate or severe later.

In the rest of the area

Wind
Cyclonic becoming westerly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in northeast, then becoming variable 2 to 4, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later, occasionally severe gale 9 later except in northeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Snow showers then fair, then rain or snow later except in northeast.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first, then becoming poor or very poor later except in northeast. Light or moderate icing at times in west and north.

East Central Section

In eastern half of the area

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in north, then becoming northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain then showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In western half of the area

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly later in south, 5 to 7, becoming variable 2 to 4 later except in far south.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Rain at first in southeast, otherwise showers, but becoming fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

West Central Section

In southeast

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first in far southeast, becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southerly 5 or 6 later in northwest.
Sea state
Rough, occasionally moderate later.
Weather
Mainly fair.
Visibility
Good.

In northeast

Wind
Westerly or northwesterly 5 or 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then southerly 5 to 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers then fair.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.

In west

Wind
Westerly 3 to 5 backing southerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Fair then rain.
Visibility
Moderate or good, becoming poor later.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in east and 4 in west, then becoming variable 2 to 4 for a time later in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times, but becoming mainly fair later in west.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, but becoming good later in west. Light or moderate icing at times, with temperatures ms03 to ms06.

North Iceland

Wind
Cyclonic, but mainly southwesterly at first, 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times except in far northwest and far southeast, then decreasing 4 to 6, but increasing 6 to gale 8 again later in west.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in east and moderate in west.
Weather
Sleet or snow at times across the whole area, but also with some occasional rain in the south.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Mainly light or moderate icing at times in west and north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but occasionally severe icing near the ice, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

Norwegian Basin

Wind
Variable 2 to 4 at first in south and east, otherwise southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, but backing southeasterly 5 to 7 for a time in far northeast.
Sea state
High at first in far northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or sleet at times later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor later.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storm force winds expected in West Northern Section and Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Central Section and north Iceland. Gales expected in Sole, 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.