Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 12:00, Wednesday 25 March 2026 until 12:00, Thursday 26 March 2026
Small Craft Warning
1. Northwesterly winds will reach force 6 or higher today (Wednesday) and early tonight on all Irish coasts.
2. Southwesterly winds will reach force 6 tomorrow morning (Thursday) on Irish coasts from Loop Head to Erris Head to Bloody Foreland.
Gale Warning
Northwest winds will reach gale force at times Wednesday afternoon on Irish coastal waters from Erris Head to Bloody Foreland to Fair Head.
Atlantic Swell
On Atlantic coasts.
Meteorological Situation at 09:00 UTC
A complex depression of 969hPa, centred near Scandinavia, and an anticyclone of 1035hPa, centred to the southwest, generates a strong to gale force southwesterly and unstable airflow with showery troughs embedded in the flow.
Gale Warning: In effect
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : yes
Forecast for Mizen Head to Erris Head to Fair Head
Wind: Northwesterly force 7 or gale force 8 and gusty, decreasing force 6 or 7 and gusty imminent. Soon decreasing force 4 or 5. Later backing southwesterly and increasing mainly force 5 or 6.
Weather: Scattered showers, some heavy with the chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Showers becoming isolated soon. Cloudy with patchy rain, drizzle and mist later.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation and mist, otherwise good.
Forecast for Fair Head to Wicklow Head to Mizen Head and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Northwesterly mainly force 6 or 7 and gusty. Soon decreasing force 4 to 6, strongest in the southeast and on the Irish Sea. Later decreasing westerly force 3 or 4, occasionally force 5.
Weather: Scattered showers, some heavy with the chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Showers will become isolated later. Patchy drizzle and mist from the west by the end of the period.
Visibility: Moderate or poor in precipitation and mist, otherwise good.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 12:00, Friday 27 March 2026
Fresh to strong southwesterly winds for Atlantic and northern sea areas, moderate to fresh southwesterly winds developing elsewhere. Winds will gradually veer west to northwest from the northwest through Thursday night and Friday morning. Weather: Cloudy with scattered rain, drizzle and mist. Rain clearing to showers from the northwest Thursday night and Friday morning.
Forecast issued at: 12:00, Wednesday 25 March 2026
All times are local unless specified
