Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 00:00, Wednesday 07 January 2026 until 00:00, 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 in the morning. 2. West to northwest winds will reach force 6 or higher in the afternoon on Irish coasts from Dungarvan to Loop Head to Bloody Foreland.
Gale Warning
Northwesterly winds will reach gale force 8 for a brief period on Irish coastal waters from Malin Head to Fair Head to Strangford Lough and on the north Irish Sea.
Atlantic Swell
Yes
Meteorological Situation at 21:00 UTC
A depression of 992hPa over Scotland generates a fresh to strong northwesterly airflow over Ireland.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Rossan Point to Belfast Lough to Carnsore Point and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Northwest force 6 or 7, occasionally gale force 8 between Malin Head and Strangford lough. Soon decreasing force 4 to 6, and occasionally force 7 on the Irish sea. Later back west to northwest force 3 or 4 and occasionally force 6 on the Irish sea. Backing west to southwest force 3 to 5 by the end of the period.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with scattered showers. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle soon. Isolated showers will follow later. Mist and fog patches possible.
Visibility: Good, reducing moderate or poor in any precipitation, mist and fog.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Carnsore Point to Mizen Head to Rossan Point
Wind: Northwest force 4 to 6. Soon backing west to southwest force 3 to 5 and occasionally force 6. Briefly becoming cyclonic variable for a time on Wednesday morning between Loop Head and Erris Head. Later veering northwesterly force 4 to 6, occasionally reaching force 7 off the coast of Rossan Point.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with isolated scattered showers. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Isolated showers will follow later. Mist and fog patches possible.
Visibility: Good, reducing moderate or poor in any precipitation, mist and fog. Visibility good, reducing moderate or poor in any precipitation, mist and fog.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 00:00, Friday 09 January 2026
Moderate to fresh, and occasionally strong northwesterly winds. Becoming cyclonic variable for a time in the west and southwest at first on Thursday morning. Fresh to strong, and occasionally touching gale force cyclonic winds will develop in the southwest, south and east associated with Storm Goretti. Mainly moderate to strong northwesterly elsewhere. Weather: Scattered showers, with rain and drizzle tracking eastwards Thursday morning, turning heavy at times in the south. Scattered showers to follow in the evening.
Forecast issued at: 00:00, Wednesday 07 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
