Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 11:00, Thursday 22 October 2026 until 12:00, Friday 23 October 2026
Small Craft Warning
Easterly winds veering northwesterly will reach force 6 or higher at times this afternoon and tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday) on all Irish coasts.
Gale Warning
Northerly winds will reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9 this evening (Thursday evening) and tomorrow Friday on Irish coastal waters from Fair Head to Carnsore Point to Slyne Head, on the Irish Sea.
Meteorological Situation at 09:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a mainly moderate southwesterly airflow. Storm Austen centred approximately 300 nautical miles southwest of Valentia will track south of Irish coast later this evening with strong to strong gale force northerly or cyclonic variable winds. Embedded troughs within the flow will generate very heavy and persistent rainfall.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : No
Forecast for Carnsore Point to Mizen Head to Slyne Head
Wind: Southerly force 3 to 5. Increasing east to southeast force 6 or 7 and veering northeasterly between Mizen Head and Slyne Head imminent. Soon increasing northerly force 7 to strong gale force 9, possibly reaching storm force 10 between Carnsore Point and Mizen Head. Later veering north to northwest. Decreasing force 6 to 7 by the end of the period.
Weather: Cloudy to fair with isolated showers and rain imminent, heavy and persistent at times. Showers developing later, slight chance of isolated thunderstorms.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Slyne Head to Rossan Point to Fair Head
Wind: South to southwest force 3 or 4. Becoming southerly imminent. Soon increasing northwesterly force 4 to 6 between Slyne Head and Rossan Point. Later increasing west to northwest force 5 or 6, occasionally reaching force 7.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with rain soon. Turning heavy and persistent at times. Showers developing later, slight chance of isolated thunderstorms.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Fair Head to Carlingford Lough to Carnsore Point and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Westerly force 3 or 4. Increasing south to southeast force 3 to 5 imminent. Soon increasing easterly force 5 to 7, slackest north of Strangford Lough. Later increasing northwesterly force 7 to strong gale force 9.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with rain soon. Turning very heavy and persistent at times.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 12:00, Saturday 24 October 2026
Strong to gale force northwesterly winds associated with Storm Austen will gradually back west to southwest on Saturday morning and ease moderate to strong. Southwesterly winds will strengthen to gale force strength along west and southwest Atlantic coasts on Saturday morning. Weather: Cloudy to fair with rain clearing in the northeast. Scattered showers will spread from the west with occasional sunny spells. Rain will move in again from the west later Friday night into Saturday morning, heavy at times.
Forecast issued at: 11:00, Thursday 22 October 2026
All times are local unless specified
