Interannual variations in the water mass census and upper ocean heat content are investigated for the Iceland-Faroe frontal area and the Norwegian Sea. Data from 10 CTD surveys and 10 AXBT flights over the 8-year period 1986-1993 were utilized. Overall results showed that between 1987 and 1989 the amount of Norwegian Sea Deep Water (NSDW, -1.1 < T < -.5, 34.90 < S < 34.92) changed very little, but the amount of Greenland Sea Deep Water (GSDW, -1.3 < T < -1.1, 34.88 < S < 34.92) has decreased substantially, and in some areas disappeared completely.Instead, two new DW classes with increased salinity (-1.3 < T < 0, 34.92 < S < 34.95) have emerged. A relation is made with the changes in deep and intermediate waters observed at Weather Ship Mike (66N, 2E) over the same period, and with watermass changes observed the Arctic Basin.