Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 00:00, Friday 05 December 2025 until 00:00, Saturday 06 December 2025
Small Craft Warning
Southerly winds backing southeasterly will reach force 6 or higher on Thursday night on Irish coasts from Roches Point to Loop Head to Bloody Foreland, extending to all Irish coasts on Friday morning, gradually veering southwesterly through Friday, and becoming confined to Irish coasts from Wicklow Head to Roches Point to Loop Head on Friday night.
Gale Warning
Southeasterly winds will reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9 at times from Friday morning on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea, gradually veering southwesterly and becoming confined to Irish coastal waters from Wicklow Head to Roches Point to Loop Head on Friday night.
Atlantic Swell
On southwestern, western and northwestern coasts.
Meteorological Situation at 21:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a moderate to strong southwesterly airflow generated by a broad and complex depression of 967hPa in the North Atlantic. Showery troughs are embedded in the flow. A warm front approaches from the southwest.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Carnsore Point to Loop Head to Erris Head
Wind: Backing south to southeast and increasing force 5 to near gale force 7 imminent. Soon increasing near gale force 7 or gale force 8, and strong gale force 9 east of Roches Point. Veering southwesterly before noon between Roches Point and Slyne Head and decreasing force 6 or near gale force 7. Later becoming southwest force 6 to gale force 8, but decreasing force 4 or 5 north of Loop Head.
Weather: Becoming cloudy with rain imminent, heavy at times. Rain clearing northeastwards through Friday morning and early afternoon, followed by scattered showers, some heavy.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Erris Head to Bloody Foreland to Fair Head
Wind: Southerly force 4 to 6 imminent. Soon backing southeasterly and increasing near gale force 7 or gale force 8. Increasing strong gale force 9 at times on Friday afternoon east of Malin Head. Later decreasing southerly or southwesterly force 4 or 5.
Weather: Cloudy to fair with scattered showers, some heavy, with a chance of thunder or hail. Soon becoming cloudy with rain spreading from the southwest. Later cloudy to fair with scattered showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Fair Head to Howth Head to Carnsore Point and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Backing southerly imminent force 4 or 5. Soon backing southeasterly and increasing near gale force 7 to strong gale force 9. Later decreasing south to southwest force 5 to 7.
Weather: Cloudy to fair with scattered showers. Soon becoming cloudy with rain spreading from the southwest. Later cloudy to fair with scattered showers.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 00:00, Sunday 07 December 2025
Strong to gale force southwest to west winds in the southeast, south and west on Friday night and Saturday will extend to some eastern parts for a time on Saturday, before decreasing moderate to fresh southerly on Saturday evening. Winds will be mostly moderate to fresh southwesterly further north, increasing strong at times on Saturday. Weather: Cloudy to fair with scattered showers or longer spells of rain, some heavy with isolated thunderstorms possible.
Forecast issued at: 00:00, Friday 05 December 2025
All times are local unless specified
