Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 23:00, Wednesday 21 October 2026 until 00:00, Friday 23 October 2026
Small Craft Warning
1. West to northwest winds will reach force 6 at times on Irish coasts from Wicklow Head to Roches Point to Slyne Head, becoming confined to Irish coasts from Wicklow Head to Carnsore Point to Roches Point early Thursday morning.
2. East to northeast winds will reach force 6 or higher Thursday evening on Irish coasts from Howth Head to Mizen Head to Slyne Head.
Gale Warning
Northerly winds will reach gale force 8 or 9 on Thursday evening on Irish coasts from Roches Point to Mizen Head to Loop Head.
Meteorological Situation at 21:00 UTC
Ireland lies in a light to moderate south to southwest airflow generated by an area of low pressure of 979hPa centred to the southwest of Iceland, with a secondary depression of 995hPa east of England. Showery troughs are embedded within the flow. Storm Austen will approach the southwest of Ireland towards the end of the period.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : No
Forecast for Howth Head to Roches Point to Slyne Head and for the South Irish Sea
Wind: Westerly force 4 to 6. Easing west to southwest force 3 or 4 soon. Later increasing easterly force 5 to 7. Increasing gale force 8 or strong gale force 9 between Roches Point and Valentia.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with rain and drizzle clearing imminent with isolated showers. Isolated thunderstorms possible. Rain soon, heavy and persistent.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Forecast for Slyne Head to Malin Head to Howth Head and for the North Irish Sea
Wind: Westerly force 3 or 4, and occasionally force 5. Soon backing southwest force 3 or 4. Later veering northerly force 4 to 6 from Slyne Head to Rossan Point to Malin Head. Veering easterly force 4 to 6 from Malin Head to Belfast Lough to Howth Head and on the north Irish sea.
Weather: Fair to cloudy with scattered showers. Isolated thunderstorms possible. Rain later, heavy and persistent at times.
Visibility: Reducing moderate or poor in precipitation.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 00:00, Saturday 24 October 2026
Storm Austen will track to the south of Ireland on Thursday evening with fresh to near gale force northerly or cyclonic variable winds. Northwesterly winds will increase gale force to strong gale force strength in the south and southeast later Thursday night, into the early hours of Friday morning. Westerly winds will ease fresh to strong early Saturday with near gale force winds on the Irish sea. Weather: Rain in the south will extend northwards, gradually becoming confined to the northeast Friday morning. Showers will follow from the west.
Forecast issued at: 23:00, Wednesday 21 October 2026
All times are local unless specified
