Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 18:00, Thursday 17 September 2026 until 18:00, Friday 18 September 2026
Small Craft Warning
West to southwest winds will reach force 6 or higher at times on all Irish coasts throughout the period.
Gale Warning
nil
Atlantic Swell
Heavy swell on Atlantic coasts from Thursday evening until Friday afternoon.
Meteorological Situation at 15:00 UTC
A depression of 978hPa centered north of Scotland generates a fresh to near gale force west to northwest airflow over Ireland.
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Valentia to Erris Head to Belfast Lough
Wind: West to northwest force 5 to 7, strongest in the north. Soon backing southwesterly force 5 or 6. Later increasing force 6 or 7, possibly touching gale force 8 at times.
Weather: Cloudy to fair with isolated showers, soon becoming cloudy with patchy rain, drizzle and mist. More persistent rain later.
Visibility: Decreasing moderate or poor in rain, drizzle and mist.
Forecast for Belfast Lough to Carnsore Point to Valentia and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Westerly force 4 to 6. Later increasing southwesterly force 6 or 7, possibly touching gale force 8 at times.
Weather: Cloudy to fair with isolated showers, later becoming cloudy with outbreaks of rain, drizzle and mist.
Visibility: Decreasing moderate or poor in rain, drizzle and mist.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 18:00, Saturday 19 September 2026
Fresh to near-gale force west to southwest winds will gradually decrease moderate to fresh in southern areas on Saturday morning. Weather: Cloudy with mist and outbreaks of rain, becoming fair to cloudy with scattered showers through Friday night.
Forecast issued at: 18:00, Thursday 17 September 2026
All times are local unless specified
