Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 17:30, Tuesday 20 October 2026 until 18:00, Wednesday 21 October 2026
Small Craft Warning
Cyclonic variable winds, becoming northwesterly, will reach force 6 or higher this evening and tonight on Irish coasts from Wicklow Head to Valentia to Malin Head, extending to all Irish coasts tomorrow morning.
Gale Warning
Northwesterly winds will reach gale force 8 this evening on Irish coastal waters from Roches Point to Loop Head to Erris Head and tomorrow on Irish coastal waters from Belfast Lough to Howth Head to Hook Head and on the Irish Sea.
Meteorological Situation at 15:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a moderate to strong cyclonic variable airflow generated by a complex low pressure system centred west of Iceland, with a secondary depression of 994hPa centred just northwest of Ireland. An associated frontal trough approaches from the west and will move northeastwards across the country this evening and overnight.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : No
Forecast for Carnsore Point to Valentia to Bloody Foreland
Wind: Northwesterly force 6 to gale force 8 imminent. Later veering westerly force 4 to 6, occasionally force 7 south of Valentia.
Weather: Cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Clear spells with showers later, becoming cloudy in the southwest towards the end of the period.
Visibility: Decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Bloody Foreland to Strangford Lough to Carnsore Point and for the Irish Sea South of Anglesey
Wind: Southeasterly force 4 to 6 imminent. Soon becoming cyclonic variable force 5 to 7, but force 3 or less between Fair Head and Strangford Lough. Later veering northwesterly force 6 to gale force 8, becoming westerly force 4 to 6 by the end of the period.
Weather: Fair, becoming cloudy with outbreaks of rain imminent. Fair with showers later.
Visibility: Decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for the Irish Sea North of Anglesey
Wind: Southeasterly force 2 to 4, later veering northwesterly force 6 to gale force 8.
Weather: Fair, soon becoming cloudy with outbreaks of rain. Fair with showers by the end of the period.
Visibility: Decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 18:00, Thursday 22 October 2026
Moderate to strong west to southwest winds, decreasing moderate to fresh by Wednesday morning. Becoming cyclonic variable on Wednesday evening and increasing moderate to strong on southern coasts. Light to moderate elsewhere. Weather: Clear spells with scattered showers, becoming cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the southwest Wednesday evening.
Forecast issued at: 17:30, Tuesday 20 October 2026
All times are local unless specified
