The general synopsis for UK
At 311200UTC, low 68 north 01 west 994 expected 68 north 16 east 985 by 011200UTC. New high expected 61 north 13 west 1026 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Shannon
- Wind
- Southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in north, otherwise variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate.
- Weather
- Fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Rockall
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 to 6 becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in north.
- Sea state
- Very rough at first in north, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8 veering northerly 4 to 6, then easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later, increasing 6 later in southwest.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain, then wintry showers in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, becoming variable 2 to 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Rain then wintry showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Northwesterly mainly 4 to 6, but 7 at first in far northeast, becoming variable 2 to 4, then southeasterly 4 to 6 later, occasionally 7 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then rain later in south.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming southerly later in south, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In southeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in north, otherwise northeasterly veering easterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then veering southerly 5 or 6 later in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair at first in north, otherwise rain.
- Visibility
- Good at first in north, otherwise moderate or poor.
In southwest
West Northern Section
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly backing southerly or southeasterly, but becoming cyclonic in far northwest, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 in west.
- Sea state
- Slight at first in far northwest, otherwise moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, then rain or sleet at times, with snow for a time in far northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or good occasionally poor, but becoming very poor for a time in far northwest.
In north
- Wind
- Variable 3 or less at first in north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Fair then rain, fog patches later in far south.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor, occasionally very poor later in far south.
In southeast
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming southerly 4 to 6 in west and north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In southwest
East Central Section
- Wind
- Southwesterly 4 or 5 at first in north and variable 2 to 4 at first in south, becoming southerly or southeasterly 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough at first in far north, otherwise moderate.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In east
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7 at first in far north, otherwise southerly backing southeasterly 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 later in far southwest.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later in far southwest.
- Weather
- Rain or drizzle at times, perhaps thundery rain later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In west
West Central Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Good.
In far northwest
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southwest, and then later in far southeast, decreasing 4 at times elsewhere.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain, thundery at times, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate to very poor, occasionally good.
In the rest of the area
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 backing westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5, then becoming variable 2 to 4 later in northeast and cyclonic 3 to 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in southeast, otherwise slight or moderate.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet at times in southeast and sleet or snow at times in southwest, but mainly fair in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southeast and very poor in southwest. Occasional light icing at first within 50 miles of greenland, with temperatures ms02 to ms04.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northwesterly 6 to gale 8, backing westerly 4 or 5 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough for a time.
- Weather
- Sleet or snow, thundery at times, then snow showers, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming good later.
In far southeast
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, backing southwesterly 3 to 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough in south and east, slight or moderate in west and north.
- Weather
- Snow showers, mainly in south and east, becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor in south and east. Light or moderate icing, gradually becoming confined to far northeast, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
In the rest of the area
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Westerly or southwesterly 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise westerly or northwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in east, decreasing 4 or 5 later in south and west.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in northeast, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet, then squally sleet or snow showers, perhaps thundery, becoming fair later in southwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor, becoming good later in southwest.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Severe gales expected in Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, East Central Section and 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.