Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 18:00, Thursday 22 October 2026 until 18:00, Friday 23 October 2026
Small Craft Warning
Easterly winds veering northwesterly will reach force 6 or higher at times on all Irish coasts throughout the period.
Gale Warning
Northwesterly winds will reach gale force 8 or strong gale force 9 on Irish coastal waters from Belfast Lough to Carnsore Point to Slyne Head and on the Irish Sea throughout the period.
Atlantic Swell
Developing on western and southwestern coasts Friday evening.
Meteorological Situation at 15:00 UTC
Storm Austen centred approximately 200 nautical miles southwest of Valentia will track eastwards to the south of Ireland later this evening with strong to strong gale force northerly or cyclonic variable winds. Embedded troughs within the flow will generate very heavy and persistent rainfall.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Carnsore Point to Mizen Head to Slyne Head
Wind: Northeasterly force 6 to gale force 8, veering northerly and increasing strong gale force 9 to storm force 10 between Roches Point and Mizen Head imminent. Soon increasing northwesterly force 7 to strong gale force 9, possibly reaching storm force 10 between Carnsore Point and Mizen Head. Later veering north to northwest. Later decreasing force 6 or 7 and decreasing westerly force 5 or 6 by the end of the period.
Weather: Cloudy with rain, heavy and persistent at times. Showers developing soon, slight chance of isolated thunderstorms.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Slyne Head to Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough
Wind: Southerly force 2 to 4, increasing northwesterly force 5 or 6 west of Rossan Point imminent. Soon increasing northwesterly force 5 or 6, occasionally reaching force 7.
Weather: Cloudy with rain imminent, turning heavy and persistent at times. Later becoming cloudy to fair with showers, slight chance of isolated thunderstorms.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Belfast Lough to Howth Head to Carnsore Point and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Increasing easterly force 5 to 7 imminent. Soon increasing northwesterly force 6 to gale force 8, reaching strong gale force 9 at times south of Howth Head.
Weather: Cloudy with rain, turning very heavy and persistent at times. Becoming cloudy to fair with isolated showers later.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 18:00, Saturday 24 October 2026
Strong to gale force northwesterly winds associated with Storm Austen will gradually back west to southwest on Friday night and ease moderate to strong. Southwest to west winds will strengthen gale force to strong gale force during Saturday. Weather: Cloudy to fair with showers at first. Rain will spread from the west later Friday night, turning heavy at times.
Forecast issued at: 18:00, Thursday 22 October 2026
All times are local unless specified
