Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 00:00, Monday 26 January 2026 until 00:00, Tuesday 27 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
Southeasterly winds veering southwest will reach force 6 or higher at times overnight and during Monday on all Irish coasts.
Gale Warning
Southeasterly winds will increase to gale force 8 at times overnight and Monday morning on Irish coastal waters from Valentia to Erris Head to Fair Head transferring to Irish coastal waters from Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough to Wicklow Head and on the Irish Sea later.
Atlantic Swell
On southwestern coasts at first.
Meteorological Situation at 21:00 UTC
A large steering depression of 942hpa centred to the south of Greenland in the North Atlantic generates a mostly moderate to strong south to southeast airflow over Ireland. An associated occluding frontal system will track northeastwards over the country during Monday.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Erris Head to Fair Head to Carnsore Point and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Southeast force 5 to 7 and gusty imminent. Soon increasing force 6 to gale force 8. Later decreasing south to southwest force 4 to 6 west of Malin Head. Otherwise maintaining southeast and decreasing force 5 to 7 and gusty at the end of the period.
Weather: Rain spreading from the southwest overnight and becoming widespread on Monday. Rain clearing to showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Forecast for Carnsore Point to Roches Point to Mizen Head
Wind: Southeast force 4 to 6 and gusty imminent. Soon increasing force 5 to 7 and gusty. Later veering southwest or variable and decreasing force 2 to 4 for a time. Increasing northeast force 5 or 6 at the end of the period.
Weather: Rain spreading from the southwest overnight and becoming widespread on Monday. Rain clearing to showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Forecast for Mizen Head to Loop Head to Erris Head
Wind: Southeast force 6 to gale force 8 imminent. Soon decreasing south to southwest force 4 to 6. Later becoming southwest or variable force 2 to 4 for a time before becoming easterly and increasing force 4 to 6 at the end of the period.
Weather: Rain spreading from the southwest overnight and becoming widespread on Monday. Rain clearing to showers later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 00:00, Wednesday 28 January 2026
Strong to gale force easterly winds developing in all sea areas on Tuesday morning, reaching strong gale at times in eastern, southern, and southwestern parts. Winds becoming cyclonic on Tuesday afternoon as a depression tracks northwards over southwestern and western parts of the country. Weather; Rain spreading northwestwards over the country on Tuesday morning, heavy at times, followed by showers, some heavy and prolonged.
Forecast issued at: 00:00, Monday 26 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
