Sea Area Forecast
Forecast valid from: 06:00, Friday 16 January 2026 until 06:00, Saturday 17 January 2026
Small Craft Warning
1. South to southwest winds will reach force 6 at times today (Thursday) on Irish coasts from Mizen Head to Slyne Head to Malin Head. 2. Southerly winds will reach force 6 or higher at times tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday) on Irish coasts from Fair Head to Dungarvan to Bloody Foreland.
Gale Warning
Nil
Meteorological Situation at 03:00 UTC
Low pressure of 987hPa advects a mostly moderate to fresh southeasterly airflow over Ireland, with embedded troughs within the flow.
Small Craft Warning: In effect
Heavy Swell (>4m) : Nil
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Belfast Lough to Wicklow Head to Hook Head and for the Irish Sea
Wind: Southerly force 4 or 5, increasing to force 5 or 6 imminent. Soon backing southeasterly force 5 or 6. Decreasing force 3 to 5 by the end of the period.
Weather: Mostly fair with scattered showers, heavy at times. Slight chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms.
Visibility: Good reducing moderate or poor in any showers.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Hook Head to Mizen Head to Loop Head
Wind: Southwesterly force 5 or 6, and occasionally reaching force 7. Soon becoming westerly or cyclonic variable force 2 to 4. Later veering northerly force 3 or 4, and variable between Hook Head and Mizen Head.
Weather: Mostly fair with scattered showers, heavy at times. Slight chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Mist and fog patches by the end of the period.
Visibility: Good reducing moderate or poor in any precipitation, mist or fog.
Forecast for Irish coastal waters from Loop Head to Bloody Foreland to Belfast Lough
Wind: Southeast force 4 or 5. Decreasing force 3 or 4 or cyclonic variable imminent. Soon backing easterly force 2 to 4. Later becoming north to northeast force 2 to 4. Increasing southeasterly force 5 or 6 between Malin Head and Belfast lough by the end of the period.
Weather: Mostly fair with scattered showers, heavy at times. Slight chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Mist and fog patches by the end of the period.
Visibility: Good reducing moderate or poor in any precipitation, mist or fog.
Outlook for a further 24 hours until 06:00, Sunday 18 January 2026
Moderate to fresh cyclonic winds will gradually ease light to moderate from the southwest on Sunday, gradually becoming southeasterly and mostly moderate on Sunday, fresh in the northeast. Weather: Fair to cloudy with scattered showers. Mist and fog patches will develop overnight mostly affecting parts of the south, west and northwest.
Forecast issued at: 06:00, Friday 16 January 2026
All times are local unless specified
