Réamhaisnéis limistear na farraige
Forecast valid from: 00:00, Thursday 18 December 2025 until 00:00, Friday 19 December 2025
Small Craft Warning
South to southwest winds will reach force 6 at times on all Irish coasts through the period.
Gale Warning
1. South to southwest winds will occasionally reach gale force 8 tonight (Wednesday night) and tomorrow morning (Thursday) on Irish coastal waters from Roches Point to Slyne Head to Malin Head. 2. Southwest to west winds will occasionally reach gale force 8 tomorrow evening and night (Thursday) on Irish coastal waters from Roches Point to Slyne Head to Malin Head.
Atlantic Swell
On southwestern, western and northwestern coasts.
Meteorological Situation at 21:00 UTC
A depression of 961hPa centred southwest of Iceland generates a fresh to near gale force southwesterly airflow over Ireland. An associated frontal trough has cleared the east coast of Ireland.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Roche's Point to Slyne Head to Malin Head
Wind: Southwesterly force 6 or near gale force 7, possibly touching gale force 8 at times. Decreasing south to southwest force 5 or 6 imminent. Soon increasing southerly near gale force 7 or gale force 8 south of Slyne head, before decreasing southwest to west force 4 to 6 everywhere. Later increasing southwest to west force 6 or 7 and reaching gale force 8 at times.
Weather: Cloudy to fair with scattered showers or more persistent outbreaks of rain, heavy at times and with a chance of hail and thunderstorms.
Visibility: Decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Malin Head to Howth Head to Roche's Point and for the Irish Sea
Wind: South to southwest force 4 to 6 imminent. Soon increasing southerly force 6 or 7. Later veering westerly and decreasing force 4 to 6, before backing southwesterly and increasing force 6 or 7 by the end of the period.
Weather: Fair with isolated showers. Soon becoming cloudy with more persistent outbreaks of rain. Becoming fair with isolated showers by the end of the period.
Visibility: Decreasing moderate or poor in precipitation, otherwise good.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 00:00, Saturday 20 December 2025
Strong to near gale force, and occasionally gale force, southwest to west winds will ease fresh to strong on Friday afternoon. Winds will back southerly and increase to near gale force or gale force in western coastal areas on Friday night. Weather: Cloudy to fair with scattered showers, some heavy and with a chance of hail or thunder.
Forecast issued at: 00:00, Thursday 18 December 2025
All times are local unless specified
