Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 18:00, Thursday 04 December 2025 until 18:00, Friday 05 December 2025
Small Craft Warning
1. West to southwest winds will reach force 6 this evening (Thursday) on Irish coasts from Roches Point to Slyne Head to Malin Head, becoming confined to Irish coasts from Slyne Head to Rossan Point to Malin Head overnight (early Friday). 2. Southeasterly winds will reach force 6 or higher early Friday on Irish coasts from Roches Point to Loop Head to Rossan Point, extending to all Irish coasts on Friday morning and gradually veering southwesterly.
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.
Atlantic Swell
On southwestern, western and northwestern coasts.
Meteorological Situation at 15:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a moderate to strong west to southwest airflow generated by a broad and complex depression in the North Atlantic. A small depression of 979hPa centred around 240 nautical miles northwest of Erris Head remains relatively stationary today whilst weakening. Associated frontal troughs are embedded in the flow.
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 Bloody Foreland
Wind: Southwesterly force 4 to 6 imminent, strongest north of Slyne Head. Soon backing southeasterly and increasing force 5 to near gale force 7. Later increasing near gale force 7 or gale force 8, and strong gale force 9 east of Roches Point. Veering southwesterly and decreasing force 6 or near gale force 7 by the end of the period, but southwesterly force 4 to 6 north of Erris Head.
Weather: Fair with scattered showers, some heavy with a chance of thunder or hail. Soon becoming cloudy with rain, turning heavy at times. Rain clearing northeastwards followed by scattered showers by the end of the period.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Bloody Foreland to Malin Head to Fair Head
Wind: Southerly force 4 to 6 imminent. Soon decreasing force 4 or 5. Later backing southeasterly and increasing near gale force 7 or gale force 8.
Weather: Fair with scattered showers, some heavy with a chance of thunder or hail. Later becoming cloudy with rain spreading from the southwest.
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: Southwesterly force 3 to 5 imminent. Later backing southeasterly and increasing near gale force 7 to strong gale force 9. Decreasing south to southwest force 6 or 7 between Carlingford Lough and Carnsore Point by the end of the period.
Weather: Fair with scattered showers. Later becoming cloudy with rain spreading from the southwest.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 18:00, Saturday 06 December 2025
Strong to gale force southwesterly winds in the south and southwest on Friday night and Saturday will ease mostly moderate to fresh on Saturday evening. Mostly moderate to fresh southwesterly winds in the west and northwest. Gale force to near gale force southeasterly winds in the northeast, east and Irish Sea on Friday evening will veer southwesterly and ease moderate to strong by Saturday evening. Weather: Rain clearing the northwest on Friday night, followed by scattered showers, some heavy with isolated thunderstorms possible.
Forecast issued at: 18:00, Thursday 04 December 2025
All times are local unless specified
