Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 111200UTC, developing Atlantic low near 57 north 33 west expected 67 north 21 west 999 by 121200UTC. Low 61 north 36 west 994 losing its identity by same time. High 74 north 18 west 1046 expected 78 north 10 west 1039 by that time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Easterly or northeasterly veering easterly or southeasterly, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Easterly 3 to 5 in south, variable 2 to 4 in north.
- Sea state
- Moderate, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Showers in south.
- Visibility
- Good.
Rockall
- Wind
- In northwest, southwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later. in southeast, variable mainly southerly 2 to 4.
- Sea state
- In northwest, rough, becoming very rough later. in southeast, moderate, becoming rough later.
- Weather
- Fair, then rain in northwest.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate later in northwest.
Bailey
- Wind
- Southerly veering southwesterly 5 to 7, decreasing 4 later in south.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7, then perhaps gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough becoming rough or very rough, then becoming high later in west.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle, then showers later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 4 or 5 for a time.
- Sea state
- Rough becoming very rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers, turning to snow later.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor at times, but occasionally very poor later.
In far northwest
- Wind
- Southerly or southwesterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 in west and north, veering westerly 4 to 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain at first in east, otherwise showers, becoming wintry in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor.
In the rest of the area
West Northern Section
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 111200UTC, developing Atlantic low near 57 north 33 west expected 67 north 21 west 999 by 121200UTC. Low 61 north 36 west 994 losing its identity by same time. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section until 120300UTC, and westerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 60 north and 62 north in central and eastern parts of West Northern Section between 120100UTC and 120800UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 to hurricane force 12 within 100 miles of Greenland to the south of 71 north in Denmark Strait, but gradually becoming confined to between 68 north and 71 north in Denmark Strait by 122000UTC.
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly gale 8 to storm 10 becoming cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- High becoming very rough, then rough later.
- Weather
- Snow, then snow showers, then becoming fair later.
- Visibility
- Very poor becoming moderate or poor, then becoming good later. Light or moderate icing until later.
In far northwest
- Wind
- Westerly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 at first in east and north, backing southwesterly 4 or 5 later in west and south.
- Sea state
- High becoming very rough, then becoming rough later in west.
- Weather
- Wintry showers then fair, then rain later in west and south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally good.
In area to the south of 60 north
- Wind
- Cyclonic, 4 to 6 at first in north and east, otherwise 7 to severe gale 9, occasionally storm 10 at first in south, then decreasing 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Very rough or high, becoming rough or very rough later.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, perhaps thundery, turning to sleet or snow, but becoming fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor, becoming moderate or good later in west.
In the rest of the area
East Central Section
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first except in far southeast, otherwise northeasterly 4 or 5, occasionally 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate becoming rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair at first in north, otherwise rain or showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Cyclonic becoming northerly or northwesterly, 4 to 6, occasionally 7 in south.
- Sea state
- High at first in far northwest, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain except in far northwest, otherwise showers.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
In northwestern half of the area
West Central Section
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly, veering northeasterly later in south, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 for a time in far southeast.
- Sea state
- High at first in north, otherwise rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain at times in far southeast, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor at first.
In southeastern half of the area
- Wind
- Westerly or northwesterly 6 or 7 at first in far north, otherwise northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6 becoming variable 2 to 4, then becoming southwesterly 4 to 6 later in north.
- Sea state
- High at first in north, otherwise very rough becoming rough.
- Weather
- Showers, wintry in north, then fair, then rain later in north.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in north.
In northwestern half of the area
Denmark Strait
- High seas storm warning
-
Issued:
At 111200UTC, developing Atlantic low near 57 north 33 west expected 67 north 21 west 999 by 121200UTC. Low 61 north 36 west 994 losing its identity by same time. Northeasterly winds will reach storm force 10 in the far northwest of West Northern Section until 120300UTC, and westerly winds will reach storm force 10 at times between 60 north and 62 north in central and eastern parts of West Northern Section between 120100UTC and 120800UTC. Northerly or northeasterly winds will also reach storm force 10 to hurricane force 12 within 100 miles of Greenland to the south of 71 north in Denmark Strait, but gradually becoming confined to between 68 north and 71 north in Denmark Strait by 122000UTC.
- Wind
- Northeasterly backing northerly severe gale 9 to violent storm 11, increasing hurricane force 12 at times, decreasing 6 to gale 8 in west, then becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high near the ice edge.
- Weather
- Snow, but becoming fair later in west.
- Visibility
- Poor or very poor, becoming moderate or good in west. Severe or very severe icing gradually becoming confined to the east, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.
In area within 100 miles of greenland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 6 to gale 8, decreasing 3 to 5 for a time in far southeast, becoming northerly or northwesterly 7 to severe gale 9 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough becoming very rough or high.
- Weather
- Rain or sleet gradually turning to snow, fog patches.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, occasionally very poor. Light or moderate icing at times, with temperatures ms02 to ms05.
In southeast
North Iceland
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 3 to 5 at first in northeast, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9 except in far north and far south, then becoming cyclonic mainly southerly 4 to 6 in south.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough at first in north and east, otherwise rough or very rough, but occasionally high in west.
- Weather
- Fair at first in northeast, otherwise sleet or snow in west and north, and rain and fog patches for a time in south.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, becoming poor or very poor for a time. Light or moderate icing in north, with temperatures ms02 to ms05, but severe icing at times in far west between 68 north and 71 north, with temperatures ms06 to ms09.
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4 at first in east and cyclonic 3 to 5 at first in west, but becoming southerly or southwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first in northeast, otherwise rain at times.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Violent storm force winds expected in Denmark Strait. Storm force winds expected in the west of sea area north Iceland. Gales expected in Southeast Iceland, East Northern Section, West Northern Section and Norwegian Basin.
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.