Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 06:00, Thursday 01 January 2026 until 06:00, Friday 02 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
North to northwest winds will reach force 6 or higher today and tonight on Irish coasts from Slyne Head to Belfast Lough to Hook Head.
Gale Warning
Nil
Meteorological Situation at 03:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a mainly fresh to strong west to northwest airflow between an anticyclone of 1033hPa centred southeast of Greenland and a depression of 978hPa centred over Norway.
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : Nil
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Slyne Head to Belfast Lough to Hook Head and for the Irish Sea
Wind: West to northwest force 5 or 6, reaching force 7 at times. Later becoming north to northwest.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with scattered patches of rain, drizzle and mist.
Visibility: Good, decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation and mist.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Hook Head to Valentia to Slyne Head
Wind: North to northwest force 3 or 4 imminent, occasionally reaching force 5. Increasing force 4 or 5 by the end of the period.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with isolated showers. Isolated rain, drizzle and mist soon.
Visibility: Good, decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation and mist.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 06:00, Saturday 03 January 2026
Fresh to strong northerly winds, occasionally increasing near gale force in the north and east. Weather: Becoming fair to cloudy with scattered showers on Friday, some possibly of hail.
Forecast issued at: 06:00, Thursday 01 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
