Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 06:00, Saturday 10 January 2026 until 06:00, Sunday 11 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
Southerly winds will increase to force 6 or higher on Saturday evening on Irish coasts from Hook Head to Loop Head to Fair Head, extending to all Irish coasts early on Saturday night.
Gale Warning
1) Southerly winds will reach gale force 8 at times later Saturday evening and early Saturday night on Irish coastal waters from Valentia to Loop Head to Erris Head. 2) Southerly winds will reach gale force 8 at times on Saturday night on Irish coastal waters from Erris Head to Belfast Lough to Hook Head and on the Irish Sea.
Atlantic Swell
At times this morning on Atlantic coasts.
Meteorological Situation at 03:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a mostly moderate to strong northwesterly airflow, with a small scale area of low pressure of 1003hpa centred to the northwest of Scotland, while a large area of low pressure of 994hPa is centred in the mid-Atlantic. An associated frontal system approaches from the west and will track eastwards across Ireland later today and tonight.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Mizen Head to Slyne Head to Fair Head
Wind: Decreasing southwest to west mostly force 4 or 5 imminent. Soon increasing southerly force 5 to 7. Later increasing force 6 to gale force 8. Decreasing force 5 to 7 towards the end of the period.
Weather: Cloudy to fair with well scattered showers, a few wintry at first. Becoming cloudy with rain and drizzle spreading eastwards imminent and soon. Occasional mist and fog later.
Visibility: Decreasing moderate to poor in precipitation, mist and fog.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Fair Head to Howth Head to Carnsore Point and for the Irish Sea
Wind: West to southwest or variable force 2 to 4. Soon increasing south to southwest force 4 or 5. Later increasing southerly force 6 to gale force 8.
Weather: Cloudy to fair. Soon cloudy. Later rain and drizzle along with isolated mist and fog.
Visibility: Mostly good at first. Decreasing moderate to poor in precipitation, mist and fog.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Carnsore Point to Roches Point to Mizen Head
Wind: Decreasing west to southwest force 3 or 4 imminent. Soon increasing southerly force 4 or 5. Later increasing force 6 to near gale force 7. Decreasing force 4 or 5 towards the end of the period between Roches Point and Mizen Head.
Weather: Cloudy to fair with isolated showers. Soon cloudy with rain and drizzle. Later occasional mist and fog.
Visibility: Mostly good at first. Decreasing moderate to poor in precipitation, mist and fog.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 06:00, Monday 12 January 2026
Wind: Fresh to near gale force southerly winds, reaching gale force for a time in the east and on the Irish Sea on Sunday morning. South to southwesterly winds generally increasing near gale to gale force later Sunday afternoon and evening and reaching strong gale force at times in the west and northwest. Winds mostly decreasing strong to near gale force towards the end of the period, still reaching gale force in the northwest. Weather: Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Rain clearing northeastwards early on Sunday night, followed by cloudy to fair weather with scattered showers.
Forecast issued at: 06:00, Saturday 10 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
