Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 12:00, Thursday 08 January 2026 until 12:00, Friday 09 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
Northerly or cyclonic variable winds, becoming northwesterly, will reach force 6 or higher from this afternoon (Thursday) on Irish coasts from Carlingford Lough to Dungarvan to Erris Head, becoming confined by Friday morning to Irish coasts from Dungarvan to Valentia to Slyne Head.
Gale Warning
Northerly winds will reach gale force 8 at times this afternoon (Thursday), this evening and early tonight on Irish coastal waters from Wicklow Head to Hook Head to Mizen Head and on the south Irish Sea.
Meteorological Situation at 09:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a mostly light to moderate variable airflow, with storm Goretti lying approximately 200 nautical miles to the southwest of Mizen Head, and having central pressure of 991hPa. Storm Goretti will continue to rapidly deepen and it and it's associated weather fronts will track eastwards towards Cornwall this afternoon and evening.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : Nil
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Howth Head to Roches Point to Loop Head and for the south Irish Sea
Wind: Backing northerly imminent and increasing force 5 to 7 and gusty, and further increasing gale force 8 between Wicklow Head and Mizen Head and on the south Irish Sea. Soon decreasing northwesterly force 5 to 7 and gusty.
Weather: Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, especially in the south. Rain clearing eastwards imminent and soon, with cloudy to fair weather following and scattered showers, the showers mainly in the west and southwest. Some of the showers will be heavy and of hail, with the chance of a few isolated thunderstorms.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Loop Head to Slyne Head to Rossan Point
Wind: Backing northerly and increasing force 4 or 5 imminent. Soon increasing northwesterly force 4 to 6 and occasionally gusty. Later decreasing variable force 2 to 4 between Erris Head and Rossan Point.
Weather: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and with rain for a time on Thursday afternoon between Loop Head and Erris Head. Soon and later, cloudy to fair with the showers turning heavy at times, and with the chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Rossan Point to Malin Head to Fair Head
Wind: Variable, mainly northerly force 2 to 4. Soon and later increasing force 5 at times between Rossan Point and Bloody Foreland.
Weather: Cloudy to fair with scattered showers. Soon and later, the showers will turn heavy at times, with the chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Fair Head to Strangford Lough to Howth Head and for the north Irish Sea
Wind: Increasing east to northeast force 4 or 5 imminent. Soon becoming northerly and increasing force 6 at times. Later decreasing northwesterly force 3 to 5, slackest in the northeast.
Weather: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers or rain. Later cloudy to fair with isolated showers.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 12:00, Saturday 10 January 2026
Wind: Strong to near gale force and gusty west to northwest winds in the southeast, south and west, reaching gale force for a time on Friday in parts of the south and southwest. The winds will gradually ease moderate to fresh northwesterly in the south and west later Friday night and Saturday morning. Otherwise winds will be mostly moderate to fresh northwesterly in the east, strong at times, before easing light to moderate on Saturday morning. In the north winds will be light to moderate and variable. Weather: Cloudy to fair with scattered showers, some heavy and of hail, with isolated thunderstorms possible.
Forecast issued at: 12:00, Thursday 08 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
