Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 06:00, Thursday 01 January 2026 until 06:00, Friday 02 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
Northwest to north winds will reach force 6 or higher today (Thursday) on Irish coasts from Erris Head to Belfast Lough to Carnsore Point, extending to coasts from Slyne Head to Strangford Lough to Dungarvan tonight and tomorrow (Friday).
Gale Warning
Nil
Meteorological Situation at 03:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a mainly fresh to strong west to northwest airflow between an anticyclone of 1033hPa centred southeast of Greenland and a depression of 978hPa centred over Norway.
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : Nil
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Slyne Head to Belfast Lough to Hook Head and for the Irish Sea
Wind: West to northwest force 5 or 6, reaching force 7 at times. Later becoming north to northwest.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with scattered patches of rain, drizzle and mist.
Visibility: Good, decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation and mist.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Hook Head to Valentia to Slyne Head
Wind: North to northwest force 3 or 4 imminent, occasionally reaching force 5. Increasing force 4 or 5 by the end of the period.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with isolated showers. Isolated rain, drizzle and mist soon.
Visibility: Good, decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation and mist.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 06:00, Saturday 03 January 2026
Fresh to strong northerly winds, occasionally increasing near gale force in the north and east. Weather: Becoming fair to cloudy with scattered showers on Friday, some possibly of hail.
Forecast issued at: 06:00, Thursday 01 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
