Sea Area Forecast

Forecast valid from: 06:00, Friday 05 December 2025 until 06:00, Saturday 06 December 2025

Small Craft Warning

Southeasterly winds will reach force 6 or higher on all Irish coasts from Friday morning, gradually veering southwesterly through the day. Further veering southwest to west on Friday night and becoming confined to Irish coasts from Wicklow Head to Roches Point to Erris Head.

Gale Warning

1) Southeasterly winds will reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9 at times on Friday morning, afternoon and evening, on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea, gradually veering southwesterly through the day. 2) Southwest to west winds will reach gale force 8 at times on Friday night on Irish coastal waters from Wicklow Head to Roches Point to Loop Head.

Atlantic Swell

On southwestern, western and northwestern coasts at times.

Meteorological Situation at 03:00 UTC

Ireland lies in a moderate to strong south to southwest airflow generated by a broad and complex depression of 967hPa in the mid North Atlantic. Its associated fronts approach the southwest coast and will move northeastwards across Ireland today.

Gale Warning: In effect

Small Craft Warning: In effect

Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes

Wave Height Forecast

Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Howth Head to Roches Point to Erris Head and for the South Irish Sea

Wind: South to southeast near gale force 7 or gale force 8 imminent, increasing strong gale force 9 east of Roches Point. Veering south to southwesterly imminent between Roches Point and Loop Head and decreasing force 6 or near gale force 7. Soon decreasing southwest force 5 to near gale force 7. Decreasing force 4 or 5 north of Loop Head early tonight. Later increasing southwest to west force 6 to gale force 8.

Weather: Cloudy with rain, heavy at times. Rain clearing northeastwards imminent and soon, followed by scattered showers or longer spells of rain, heavy at times.

Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.

Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Erris Head to Malin Head to Howth Head and for the North Irish Sea

Wind: Backing southeasterly imminent and increasing near gale force 7 or gale force 8. Soon increasing strong gale force 9 at times in the east and north. Soon decreasing force 4 to 6 west of Malin Head. Later decreasing south to southwest force 4 or 5.

Weather: Becoming cloudy imminent with rain spreading from the southwest. Rain clearing northeastwards soon and later, with showers or longer spells of rain following, heavy at times.

Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.

Outlook for a further 24 hours until 06:00, Sunday 07 December 2025

Strong to gale force southwest to west winds in the southeast, south and west on Friday night and for a time on Saturday, decreasing moderate to fresh southerly later Saturday. Elsewhere winds will be mostly moderate to fresh south to southwesterly on Friday night, increasing fresh to strong, occasionally near gale force at times from Saturday afternoon. Weather: Cloudy to fair with scattered showers or longer spells of rain, some of that heavy with isolated thunderstorms possible. Becoming cloudy towards the end of the period, with rain and drizzle spreading from the southwest, along with occasional mist and fog.

Forecast issued at: 06:00, Friday 05 December 2025

All times are local unless specified