Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 18:00, Thursday 18 December 2025 until 18:00, Friday 19 December 2025
Small Craft Warning
South to southwest winds, veering southwest to west, will reach force 6 at times on all Irish coasts through the period.
Gale Warning
Southwesterly winds will reach gale force 8 at times tonight and overnight on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea, later becoming confined to Irish coastal waters from Slyne Head to Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough and the north Irish Sea.
Atlantic Swell
On Atlantic coasts.
Meteorological Situation at 15:00 UTC
A depression of 963hPa centred around 180 nautical miles south of Iceland generates a fresh to near gale south to southwest airflow over Ireland. An associated cold front is tracking eastwards over the country with further frontal troughs embedded in the flow.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Slyne Head to Malin Head to Howth Head and for the North Irish Sea
Wind: West to southwest force 5 to 7 and gusty, imminent increasing force 6 to gale force 8 and gusty. Decreasing southwest force 5 or 6 towards the end of the period.
Weather: Rain in the east clearing imminently with isolated showers following for a time. Showers becoming more frequent in the west and extending eastwards soon, some heavy with hail and isolated thunderstorms. Showers becoming isolated later.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Howth Head to Roches Point to Slyne Head and for the South Irish Sea
Wind: West to southwest force 5 to 7 and gusty, imminent increasing force 6 to gale force 8 and gusty. Soon decreasing force 6 or 7 and gusty. Later decreasing southwest force 5 or 6.
Weather: Rain in the east clearing imminently with isolated showers following for a time. Showers becoming more frequent in the west and extending eastwards soon, some heavy with hail and isolated thunderstorms. Showers becoming isolated later.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 18:00, Saturday 20 December 2025
Fresh to strong southerly winds increasing near gale to gale force along western coasts on Friday night and elsewhere overnight and Saturday morning. Veering moderate to fresh westerly in western and southwestern sea areas on Saturday morning and becoming moderate to fresh southwesterly in western and southern coastal areas on Saturday afternoon. Weather; Isolated showers at first. Cloud and rain spreading from the Atlantic Friday night, clearing eastwards on Saturday afternoon with scattered showers following.
Forecast issued at: 18:00, Thursday 18 December 2025
All times are local unless specified
