Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 020000UTC, low 51 north 19 west 1003 expected 47 north 15 west 1006 by 030000UTC. Low 66 north 29 west 1014 expected 61 north 35 west 1015 by same time. Low 70 north 08 west 1018 expected 73 north 03 east 1016 by that time. at 020000UTC, high 55 north 35 west 1025 expected to dissipate by 030000UTC

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 2 May 2024.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Thu 2 May 2024 to 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 3 May 2024.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Cyclonic 2 to 4.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming moderate later.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Good.

Shannon

Wind: Cyclonic 4 to 6.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough at first in west.
Weather: Rain or thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later in west.
Weather: Occasional rain at first and fog patches at first.
Visibility: Occasionally very poor at first in, otherwise moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind: East or northeast 4 to 6, occasionally 3 at first.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks until later.
Visibility: Very poor until later, otherwise moderate or good.

Faeroes

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly veering southeasterly later in west, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks at first.
Visibility: Poor or very poor at first, otherwise good.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly veering southeasterly later in east, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog patches.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far south.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional rain.
Visibility: Moderate or good.

Wind: Southerly or southwesterly backing southeasterly in far northwest later, 3 to 5.
Sea state: Moderate, occasionally rough in south.
Weather: Occasional rain, fog patches later in far east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in far east.

West Northern Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly westerly or northwesterly later, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Mainly fair, occasional sleet or snow later in far north.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor later in far north.

East Central Section

Wind: Cyclonic, mainly northerly or northeasterly later, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later in far northeast.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in northeast and far southwest, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in northeast.

West Central Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 far north, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in northeast.
Weather: Occasional rain in southwest, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor in southwest.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Cyclonic 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in far north near ice sheet.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Occasional sleet or snow in north, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in north, occasionally very poor in north, otherwise good. Light icing in far north near ice sheet with temperatures of ms02 to ms04.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in far northwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Sleet or snow far northeast, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Moderate or poor occasionally very poor far northeast, good elsewhere. Light to moderate icing in far northeast near ice sheet with temperatures of ms02 to ms05.

Wind: Northwest 3 or 4 in far north, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in west.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks in far south, sleet or snow in west, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Poor or very poor far south, moderate occasionally very poor in west and good elsewhere.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Northeasterly, veering southeasterly later in northwest, 2 to 4, occasionally 5 in east.
Sea state: Slight or moderate.
Weather: Fog banks in far northwest and later in northeast, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Poor or very poor far northwest and later in northeast, otherwise good.

Outlook for following 24 hours

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

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.