Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 281200UTC low 56 north 07 west expected 54 north 17 west by 291200UTC. Low 52 north 06 west loses its identity by same time. New low 60 north 05 west 975 by that time.

Issued at: .

For the period to .

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

Sole

Wind
West or southwest 5 to 7.
Sea state
Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather
Thundery showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Shannon

Wind
Cyclonic becoming south or southwest, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Rockall

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Bailey

Wind
Cyclonic 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Faeroes

High seas storm warning
Issued:

No storms.

Wind
East or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps increasing storm 10 at times later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

Southeast Iceland

High seas storm warning
Issued:

No storms.

Wind
East or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, perhaps increasing storm 10 at times later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Rain or showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good.

East Northern Section

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9, decreasing 4 to 6 at times in far northwest.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or showers, wintry at times.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

In north

Wind
Northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally moderate at first in far northwest.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Occasionally slight or moderate icing expected in far northwst.

In southeast

Wind
Northerly 4 or 5, increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high in east.
Weather
Wintry showers, then rain later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southwest

Wind
North or northwest veering northeast, 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind
Northerly or northwesterly, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 for a time in northwest.
Sea state
Very rough or high.
Weather
Rain or wintry showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Central Section

Wind
Northwesterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 at first in southwest and later in northeast.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high at first in southeast.
Weather
Rain, perhaps thundery in south and west, wintry showers in north and east.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in south, increasing 6 or 7, occasionally gale 8 in east.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Sleet or snow later in east. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in east. Light or moderate icing close to ice sheet, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.

North Iceland

In north

Wind
Northerly or northeasterly 3 or 4 increasing 5 to 7.
Sea state
Slight or moderate, occasionally rough later.
Weather
Wintry showers.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor. Moderate icing developing close to ice sheet, with temperatures ms5 to ms 08.

In southeast

Wind
Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, occasionally high later.
Weather
Wintry showers, then rain or sleet later.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In southwest

Wind
Northeasterly 4 or 5, increasing 6 or 7.
Sea state
Occasionally gale 8 in far west.
Weather
Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Visibility
Occasional sleet or snow. Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Slight to moderate icing developing close to ice sheet, with temperatures ms03 to ms 07, occasionally severe icing in east with temperatures ms 08 to ms 10 later.

Norwegian Basin

In west

Wind
Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather
Fair at first, then rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

In east

Wind
Northeaserly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 4 to 6 later.
Sea state
Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough.
Weather
Showers, then rain or sleet.
Visibility
Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Storms expected in Bailey, Southeast Iceland and East Northern Section. Severe gales expected in Faeroes, East Central Section, Denmark Strait, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales excpected in Rockall, West Northern Section 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.