Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 12:00, Wednesday 17 December 2025 until 12:00, Thursday 18 December 2025
Small Craft Warning
South to southwest winds will reach force 6 or higher tonight and tomorrow (Thursday) for all Irish coasts.
Gale Warning
South to southwest winds will reach gale force 8 at times tonight and tomorrow morning (Thursday) on Irish coastal waters from Roches Point to Slyne Head to Malin Head.
Atlantic Swell
High seas in Atlantic areas
Meteorological Situation at 09:00 UTC
Low pressure of 944hPa south of Iceland feeds in a strong to gale force southwest airflow across Ireland. Its associated fronts will soon clear into the Irish Sea with a secondary low tracking up from the southwest early on Thursday.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Malin Head to Howth Head to Roches Point
Wind: Southwest force 6 to gale force 8, winds strongest for a time on the Irish Sea. Force 5 or 6 imminent. Increasing southerly force 6 or 7 and gusty towards the end of the period.
Weather: Scattered rain and drizzle, mainly across southern and eastern areas. Soon becoming fair but with some thundery showers in Atlantic areas. Heavy rain moving in from the west later.
Visibility: Reducing moderate in rain or showers.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Roches Point to Valentia to Slyne Head
Wind: Southwest 5 or 6 and gusty. Increasing southerly force 6 to gale force 8 towards the end of the period.
Weather: Scattered rain and drizzle, mainly across southern and eastern areas. Soon becoming fair but with some thundery showers in Atlantic areas. Heavy rain moving in from the west later.
Visibility: Reducing moderate in rain or showers.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Slyne Head to Rossan Point to Malin Head
Wind: Southwest force 5 or 6 and gusty. Soon increasing force 6 or 7 and gusty. Later increasing force 6 to gale force 8.
Weather: Scattered rain and drizzle, mainly across southern and eastern areas. Soon becoming fair but with some thundery showers in Atlantic areas. Heavy rain moving in from the west later.
Visibility: Reducing moderate in rain or showers.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 12:00, Friday 19 December 2025
Strong to gale force south to southwest winds with heavy spells of rain clearing eastwards into the Irish Sea. An unstable southwest flow will follow with heavy thundery showers in Atlantic sea areas, while becoming mostly fine elsewhere.
Forecast issued at: 12:00, Wednesday 17 December 2025
All times are local unless specified
