Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 18:00, Saturday 03 January 2026 until 18:00, Sunday 04 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
1. North to northwest winds will reach force 6 at times this evening (Saturday) on Irish coasts from Erris Head to Belfast Lough to Hook Head, becoming confined to Irish coasts from Erris Head to Malin Head to Belfast Lough tonight. 2. North to northwest winds will reach force 6 or higher at times tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) on Irish coasts from Slyne Head to Fair Head to Carnsore Point.
Gale Warning
Nil
Meteorological Situation at 15:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a fresh to strong north to northwest airflow between an anticyclone of 1044hPa centered over Greenland and a depression of 984hPa centred over the Baltic Sea.
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : Nil
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Erris Head to Belfast Lough to Hook Head and for the Irish Sea
Wind: North to northwest force 5 or 6, and gusty. Soon decreasing force 4 or 5, occasionally reaching force 6. Later increasing force 5 or 6, and gusty.
Weather: Mostly fair with scattered showers of rain, snow, sleet or hail.
Visibility: Good, decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Hook Head to Mizen Head to Erris Head
Wind: Northerly force 2 to 4, and gusty. Later backing north to northwest. Increasing force 5 or 6, and gusty, between Loop Head and Erris Head by the end of the period.
Weather: Mostly fair with scattered showers of rain, snow, sleet or hail. Chance of mist and fog patches in the southwest later.
Visibility: Good, decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation, mist and fog.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 18:00, Monday 05 January 2026
Fresh to strong and gusty north to northwest winds, decreasing moderate to fresh northwesterly winds on Monday afternoon. Weather: Mostly fair with scattered showers of rain, snow, sleet or hail, mainly in the north and west.
Forecast issued at: 18:00, Saturday 03 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
