Coast and sea

High seas forecast and storm warnings

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The general synopsis for UK

At 030000UTC, low 50 north 43 west 973 expected 52 north 19 west 963 by 040000UTC.

Issued at: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 3 Nov 2023.

For the period 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 3 Nov 2023 to 08:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Nov 2023.

High seas forecast and storm warnings map

High seas forecast and storm warnings explained

Sole

Wind: Northwest, becoming cyclonic, then west or southwest later, 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Thundery showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Shannon

Wind: Northwest 6 to gale 8, backing south or southwest 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8 later.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Rockall

Wind: North or northwest 4 to 6, becoming variable 2 to 4, then northeast 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Rough or very rough until later, otherwise moderate or rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Bailey

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly, 6 to gale 8 at first in far northwest, otherwise 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Faeroes

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Southeast Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 7 to severe gale 9.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

East Northern Section

Wind: Northerly or northeasterly 5 to 7, increasing gale 8 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough, occasionally high in far northeast.
Weather: Squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

West Northern Section

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly, backing northerly later, 4 to 6.
Sea state: Rough.
Weather: Showers, wintry at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Cyclonic, becoming northerly or northwesterly, 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in south.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain or showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

East Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 3 Nov 2023

At 030000UTC, low 50 north 43 west 973 expected 52 north 19 west 963 by 040000UTC. Cyclonic winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southwestern semi-circle, between 50 and 300 miles from the centre until 031200UTC and between 100 and 500 miles from the centre after 031200UTC until 040000UTC and between 150 and 600 miles from the centre after 040000UTC.

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise southeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 7 to severe gale 9, then mainly northerly or northeasterly later.
Sea state: Very rough or high.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

Wind: Northwesterly 5 to 7 at first in east, otherwise cyclonic 6 to gale 8, becoming mainly westerly or southwesterly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11.
Sea state: Very rough or high, becoming very high later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers, perhaps thundery.
Visibility: Moderate or poor.

West Central Section

High seas storm warning: Issued: 08:00 (UTC) on Fri 3 Nov 2023

At 030000UTC, low 50 north 43 west 973 expected 52 north 19 west 963 by 040000UTC. Cyclonic winds will reach storm force 10 or violent storm force 11 in the southwestern semi-circle, between 50 and 300 miles from the centre until 031200UTC and between 100 and 500 miles from the centre after 031200UTC until 040000UTC and between 150 and 600 miles from the centre after 040000UTC.

Wind: Cyclonic severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, becoming northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
Sea state: High or very high, becoming very rough or high later.
Weather: Rain or squally showers.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Denmark Strait

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 later.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, becoming rough or very rough later.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

North Iceland

Wind: Northeasterly 5 to 7, occasionally gale 8 in southeast.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Occasional rain in southeast but sleet at times in northwest.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Variable 2 to 4, becoming northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
Sea state: Slight or moderate, becoming moderate or rough later.
Weather: Sleet or snow at times.
Visibility: Good, occasionally very poor.

Norwegian Basin

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 4 to 6.
Sea state: Moderate or rough, occasionally very rough in north.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Wind: Easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, increasing severe gale 9 at times.
Sea state: Rough or very rough.
Weather: Rain at times.
Visibility: Moderate or good, occasionally poor.

Outlook for following 24 hours

Violent storms expected in East Central Section. Storms expected in West Central Section and Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in Sole, Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, north Iceland and Norwegian Basin. Gales expected in Shannon, northwest Bailey 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.