The North Atlantic is not one forecast zone. A route from Europe or the islands to North America or the Caribbean may move through several national and international forecast areas. This guide helps you assemble the correct source set; it is not a route recommendation or a live forecast.
Which products cover your passage?
Start with the WMO/IMO METAREA directory. For example, METAREA II covers a large eastern Atlantic area under French issuance, while western Atlantic high-seas information is available through NOAA/NWS Marine Forecasts. The actual products needed depend on the route and current area boundaries. Consult the issuing national services directly because an aggregation portal can be delayed.
A useful North Atlantic weather brief
- Mark the intended track, realistic speed range, likely position at each forecast update and diversion choices.
- Record every forecast area encountered; note bulletin issue and valid times in UTC.
- Look for low-pressure systems, fronts, wind shifts, gusts, significant wave height, wave period and swell direction, plus visibility.
- Check whether available models differ along the most exposed part of the passage; do not average away a credible adverse scenario.
- Plan how the next official warning and forecast will reach the vessel when ordinary mobile data is unavailable.
Shorter coastal sections need their own local products. A high-seas bulletin cannot replace the forecast for an approach, inlet or harbour. Conversely, a pleasant marina forecast does not describe the ocean crossing.
Related decisions
For a crossing, use the transatlantic passage checklist. For the western end, inspect the Caribbean guide or US East Coast guide. The National Hurricane Center marine page adds tropical-system information where relevant; it does not remove the need for high-seas and local warnings.
Source check: 24 September 2026. Conditions and products change; verify the latest original bulletin and navigational information before and during a passage.