Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 00:00, Thursday 22 January 2026 until 00:00, Friday 23 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
1. Southeasterly winds will reach force 6 or higher tonight and tomorrow (Thursday) on Irish coasts from Malin Head to Belfast Lough to Carlingford Lough.
2. Northwesterly winds will reach force 6 or higher tonight and tomorrow morning (Thursday) on Irish coasts from Roches Point to Valentia to Loop Head.
Gale Warning
Nil
Atlantic Swell
On southwestern and western coasts Wednesday night and Thursday.
Meteorological Situation at 21:00 UTC
Low pressure of 976hPa, centred over Ireland, generates a mostly fresh to near gale force cyclonic variable airflow over the country.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough to Howth Head and for the North Irish Sea
Wind: Southeasterly force 5 to 7. Soon becoming easterly.
Weather: Rain or showers. Areas of mist.
Visibility: Often moderate or poor.
Forecast for Howth Head to Carnsore Point to Dungarvan and for the South Irish Sea
Wind: Southeasterly or cyclonic variable force 3 or 4, occasionally reaching force 5. Later becoming southerly.
Weather: Rain or showers. Areas of mist.
Visibility: Often moderate or poor.
Forecast for Dungarvan to Mizen Head to Slyne Head
Wind: Increasing northwesterly force 5 to 7 imminent. Soon decreasing force 4 to 6. Later decreasing westerly force 2 to 4. Becoming variable by the end of the period.
Weather: Rain or showers. Areas of mist. Cloudy to fair later with isolated showers.
Visibility: Often moderate or poor. Becoming mostly good later.
Forecast for Slyne Head to Erris Head to Bloody Foreland
Wind: Cyclonic variable force 2 to 4. Later increasing west to southwest force 3 to 5 north of Rossan Point.
Weather: Rain or showers. Areas of mist.
Visibility: Often moderate or poor.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 00:00, Saturday 24 January 2026
Fresh to strong easterly winds in the north and northeast, reaching near gale force at times. Mostly light to moderate cyclonic variable winds elsewhere. Fresh to near gale force east to northeast winds will develop through Friday, possibly reaching gale force in the southeast towards the end of the period. Weather: Rain or showers with areas of mist.
Forecast issued at: 00:00, Thursday 22 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
