Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 06:00, Wednesday 07 January 2026 until 06:00, Thursday 08 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
1. West to northwest winds will reach force 6 or higher today (Wednesday) from Erris Head to Strangford Lough to Carnsore Point, gradually becoming confined from Fair Head to Strangford Lough to Howth Head, and on the Irish sea later this morning. 2. West to northwest winds will reach force 6 or higher this afternoon on Irish coasts from Dungarvan to Loop Head to Bloody Foreland.
Gale Warning
Nil
Atlantic Swell
Yes.
Meteorological Situation at 03:00 UTC
A depression of 993hPa centered off the west coast of Scotland generates a moderate to strong northwesterly airflow over Ireland. Weather fronts will track eastwards over Ireland today.
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Bloody Foreland to Carlingford Lough to Hook Head and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Northwest force 5 or 6, and occasionally force 7. Soon decreasing northwest to west force 2 to 4, or cyclonic variable. Occasionally touching force 5 on the north Irish sea. Later increasing northwest force 4 or 5, and occasionally force 6 between Wicklow Head and Hook Head. Elsewhere becoming west to southwest or cyclonic variable force 2 to 4.
Weather: Cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Isolated showers to follow later. Patches of mist and fog too.
Visibility: Good, reducing moderate or poor in all precipitation, mist and fog.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Hook Head to Loop Head to Bloody Foreland
Wind: Northwest force 3 to 5, and occasionally force 6 off Hook Head. Backing west to southwest imminent or cyclonic variable force 3 to 5 and occasionally force 6 between Mizen Head and Loop Head. Soon veering northwesterly force 5 or 6, and occasionally force 7 between Erris Head and Rossan Point. Later decreasing force 4 or 5, and occasionally force 6 between Erris Head and Bloody Foreland. Decreasing west to southwest force 2 to 4 or cyclonic variable by the end of the period.
Weather: Mostly cloudy with rain and drizzle. Isolated showers developing soon, follow by further outbreaks of rain and drizzle later, heavy at times. Patches of mist and fog too.
Visibility: Good, reducing moderate or poor in all precipitation, mist and fog.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 06:00, Friday 09 January 2026
Light to moderate or variable westerly winds. Easterly winds will strengthen strong to fresh and near gale force on southern coasts Thursday. Winds will back northwesterly and strengthen to gale force for a time in the southeast on Thursday evening. Elsewhere northerly winds will strengthen moderate to strong. Northwest winds will occasionally reach gale force in the southwest on Friday morning. Weather: Scattered showers, with rain and drizzle tracking eastward Thursday morning, turning heavy at times in the south. Scattered showers to follow in the evening.
Forecast issued at: 06:00, Wednesday 07 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
