Coast and sea
The general synopsis for UK
At 201200UTC, low 61 north 17 west 999 expected 59 north 10 west 1003 by 211200UTC. Low 39 north 24 west 988 expected 39 north 18 west 993 by same time. High 75 north 05 west 1038 expected 68 north 30 west 1024 by that time. High 50 north 38 west 1032 declining and losing its identity by 211200UTC. New low expected 45 north 10 west 1004 by same time
Issued at: .
For the period to .
High seas forecast and storm warnings map
Sole
- Wind
- Southeast 3 or 4, backing east or northeast 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
Shannon
- Wind
- Variable 2 to 4, becoming north or northwest 4 or 5.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or drizzle.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Rockall
- Wind
- West or southwest, becoming cyclonic, 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, very rough later in northwest.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Bailey
- Wind
- Cyclonic, becoming northeasterly later, 4 to 6, increasing 7 or gale 8 in north.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor.
Faeroes
- Wind
- Southwest, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5, increasing 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate or rough.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good,.
Southeast Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 until later in southeast, otherwise northeasterly 6 to gale 8.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Rain or showers, wintry at times in northwest.
- Visibility
- Moderate or poor, becoming good.
East Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 5 or 6, but 7 or gale 8 for a time in northeast, decreasing 3 or 4 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough in north.
- Weather
- Squally showers, mainly at first in east.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In north
- Wind
- Northwesterly 4 to 6, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later.
- Sea state
- Rough occasionally very rough.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first in east, otherwise showers, squally at times.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor at first in east.
In south
West Northern Section
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 at first in northeast, becoming southeasterly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate in northeast, occasionally high later in far west.
- Weather
- Occasional snow at first in northwest, otherwise mainly fair, rain later in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor at first in northwest, becoming moderate or poor for a time later. Occasional light or moderate icing expected from 210900utc in far northwest.
In north
- Wind
- Southeasterly 6 to gale 8, occasionally severe gale 9, but northwesterly 4 or 5 at first in east, backing westerly 6 or 7 later in far west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, occasionally high later in west.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, rain for a time later, then wintry showers in west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
In south
East Central Section
- Wind
- Northerly or northwesterly 4 to 6.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in northwest and moderate in east until later.
- Weather
- Showers.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally moderate.
In north
- Wind
- Northeasterly 6 to gale 8, backing northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6 later.
- Sea state
- Rough, occasionally very rough in south.
- Weather
- Occasional rain at first in far southeast, otherwise mainly fair.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good.
In south
West Central Section
- Wind
- Northerly or northeasterly 4 to 6, becoming variable 3 or 4 for a time, then becoming southerly 6 to gale 8 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then occasional rain for a time, wintry showers later in far west.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time, occasionally moderate later in west.
In east
- Wind
- Southerly or southeasterly 4 to 6, but variable 3 or 4 at first in east, veering southerly 6 to gale 8, then veering westerly 5 to 7 later.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough.
- Weather
- Mainly fair, then occasional rain for a time.
- Visibility
- Good, becoming moderate or poor for a time.
In west
Denmark Strait
- Wind
- Northeasterly 4 to 6, occasionally 7 at first, becoming variable 3 or 4, then cyclonic 5 to 7 later, occasionally gale 8 later west of 36 west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming mainly moderate.
- Weather
- Wintry showers at first in northwest, otherwise mainly fair, sleet and snow later in far west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor later in far west. Occasional icing expected close to ice edge until 210000utc with temperatures between ms02 and ms05, further light to moderate icing developing from 211800utc in far southwest and northeast with temperatures of ms05 to ms09.
North Iceland
- Wind
- Cyclonic 4 or 5, becoming southwesterly 6 or 7 later.
- Sea state
- Moderate, occasionally slight in north.
- Weather
- Snow showers, fair later.
- Visibility
- Good, occasionally poor until later. Occasional light to moderate icing expected from 211200utc within 70 miles of ice edge with temperatures between ms02 and ms08.
In north
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5 until later in far southeast, otherwise easterly or northeasterly 6 to gale 8, becoming cyclonic 3 to 5 later in north and west.
- Sea state
- Rough or very rough, becoming moderate or rough later in north.
- Weather
- Occasional rain and fog patches in far southeast, otherwise occasional snow or snow showers, becoming mainly fair later except in far southeast.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally very poor until later.
In south
Norwegian Basin
- Wind
- Cyclonic 3 to 5, occasionally 6 later in far northwest.
- Sea state
- Mainly rough, occasionally very rough at first in far northwest, becoming moderate or rough later.
- Weather
- Occasional rain or showers, fog patches in west.
- Visibility
- Moderate or good, occasionally poor in east and very poor in west.
Outlook for following 24 hours
Risk of storms in Denmark Strait. Severe gales expected in East Northern Section, West Northern Section, East Central Section and West Central Section. Gales expected in Bailey, Faeroes, Southeast Iceland 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.