Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 06:00, Monday 05 January 2026 until 06:00, Tuesday 06 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
1. North to northwest winds will reach force 6 or higher this morning (Monday) on all Irish coasts, becoming confined to Irish coasts this afternoon from Belfast Lough to Wicklow Head to Roches Point. 2. Northwest winds will reach force 6 or higher this evening (Monday) on Irish coasts from Erris Head to Bloody Foreland to Fair Head, extending tonight to Irish coasts from Valentia to Rossan Point to Wicklow Head.
Gale Warning
Nil
Meteorological Situation at 03:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a moderate to strong northerly airflow, between an anticyclone of 1027hPa centered south of Iceland, and a depression of 1001hPa centred over the North Sea.
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : Nil
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Malin Head to Wicklow Head to Mizen Head and for the Irish Sea
Wind: North to northwest force 5 or 6, occasionally reaching force 7. Soon decreasing force 4 to 6. Later backing west to northwest.
Weather: Mostly fair with scattered showers of rain, sleet and snow, with a chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms.
Visibility: Good, decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Mizen Head to Slyne Head to Malin Head
Wind: Northerly force 4 to 6 and gusty. Soon decreasing force 4 or 5. Later backing northwesterly, and increasing force 6 between Erris Head and Malin Head. Backing west to southwest and increasing force 5 or 6 by the end of the period.
Weather: Mostly fair with scattered showers of rain, sleet and snow, with a chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Becoming cloudy with outbreaks of rain by the end of the period.
Visibility: Good, decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 06:00, Wednesday 07 January 2026
Moderate to strong west to northwest winds, backing west to southwest on Tuesday morning and increasing fresh to near gale. Winds gradually veering north to northwest on Tuesday afternoon, and decreasing moderate to fresh in the west and north on Tuesday night. Weather: Cloud and rain extending from the west on Tuesday morning, becoming patchy and clearing to showers on Tuesday afternoon.
Forecast issued at: 06:00, Monday 05 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
