Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 18:00, Monday 12 January 2026 until 18:00, Tuesday 13 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
1. Southwest winds will reach force 6 or higher today on Irish coasts from Belfast Lough to Carlingford Lough to Slyne Head, becoming confined to coasts from Belfast Lough to Carlingford Lough to Carnsore Point for a time tonight. 2. Later tonight and during tomorrow (Tuesday), northwest winds will increase to force 6 or higher at times on all coasts of Ireland.
Gale Warning
Nil
Meteorological Situation at 15:00 UTC
A depression of 962hPa centered to the north of Scotland generates a moderate to fresh southwesterly airflow over Ireland. Showery troughs are embedded within the flow.
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : Nil
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Slyne Head to Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Southwest force 5 or 6. Soon veering northwesterly between Hook Head and Slyne Head force 4 or 5. Later becoming northwesterly force 4 or 5, and occasionally force 6.
Weather: Scattered showers. Rain, drizzle and mist soon.
Visibility: Good reducing moderate or poor in precipitation, mist and fog.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Belfast Lough to Hook Head to Slyne Head
Wind: Cyclonic variable force 2 to 4 between Slyne Head and Malin Head. Southwesterly force 3 or 4 between Malin Head and Belfast Lough. Becoming northerly imminent. Backing northwesterly force 3 to 5, and occasionally force 6. Later increasing west to northwest force 4 to 6.
Weather: Scattered showers. Rain, drizzle and mist soon.
Visibility: Good reducing moderate or poor in precipitation, mist and fog.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 18:00, Wednesday 14 January 2026
Moderate to fresh northwesterly winds, will occasionally reach strong on northwest coasts and gradually back southwesterly by Wednesday morning with a strengthening of the winds to strong and near gale force on western coasts first. Strong to near gale southerly winds will gradually move eastwards on Wednesday, and possibly reach gale force strength at times. Mostly cloudy to fair with scattered showers to the north. Rain and drizzle will move in from the west on Wednesday with scattered showers to follow.
Forecast issued at: 18:00, Monday 12 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
