Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

The general synopsis for UK

At 050000UTC, low 43 north 56 west 965 expected 47 north 53 west 959 by 060000UTC. Low 49 north 17 west 984 expected 51 north 03 west 974 by same time. New high expected 78 north 19 west 1030 by that time

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 Jan 2025.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 Jan 2025 to 08:00 (UTC) on Mon 6 Jan 2025.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Southwest veering north or northwest, 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery rain.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northeast backing north or northwest, 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain then showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high later.
Weather: Squally sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. light icing.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northeasterly 4 to 6, backing northerly 6 to gale 8 in east.
Sea state: Rough or very rough in south and east, moderate or rough in west and north.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers, squally in east.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Occasional light icing near the Icelandic coast.

West Northern Section

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 until later in northwest, otherwise northeasterly 4 to 6, veering easterly 6 or 7 later in southwest.
Sea state: Slight or moderate in north, moderate or rough in south.
Weather: Mainly fair at first in west, otherwise sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

Wind: Northerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in south, then backing northwesterly 5 or 6 later in south.
Sea state: High at first in south, otherwise rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at first in far southeast, otherwise squally showers, wintry later in north.
Visibility: Moderate or poor, occasionally good.

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7 becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Very rough at first in south, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers, perhaps wintry in north, then fair, then rain later in southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor later in southwest.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Sun 5 Jan 2025

Southeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 48 north and 52 north in the western half of West Central Section between 051700UTC and 060300UTC.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4 at first in east, otherwise easterly or southeasterly 4 to 6 increasing 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 in west between 48 north and 52 north, then veering westerly or southwesterly 4 or 5 later in southwest.
Sea state: Moderate or rough at first in northeast, otherwise rough or very rough, occasionally high in west.
Weather: Showers at first in east, then thundery rain moving in from the southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor except in northeast.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 in far east.
Sea state: Moderate or rough in far east, but elsewhere slight or moderate.
Weather: Snow at times in east and south, otherwise mainly fair.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor in east and south. Light or moderate icing in far east, with temperatures ms04 to ms07, but severe icing near the ice in the far east, with temperatures ms08 to ms10.

North Iceland

Wind: Northerly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times, then perhaps severe gale 9 later in far south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, becoming moderate later in far north.
Weather: Snow showers, squally in south.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing except in far east, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe or very severe icing near the ice in the northwest, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly at first in south, otherwise northerly or northeasterly, 3 to 5, increasing 6 to gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Moderate or rough.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Wind: Northwesterly 3 to 5 becoming variable 2 to 4, then easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough becoming moderate.
Weather: Sleet or snow showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

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