Wind forecast Ballyclare today

Wind in Ballyclare right now

Meteogram and wind rose for Ballyclare

Next 48 hours, hour by hour

Mean wind through the next 48 hours runs between 4 and 27 km/h (2 to 17 mph), mostly from the SW. The strongest gust is 52 km/h (32 mph) at Mon 10:00. Speeds are in km/h with miles per hour underneath. Direction is where the wind comes from.

Seven-day gust outlook

The windiest day of the week is Mon 5/10 with gusts to 52 km/h (32 mph). The calmest is Tue 6/10, gusts to 22 km/h (14 mph). Later days are less certain than the first two: the further out, the more the models can disagree.

What the wind does in Ballyclare

Ballyclare, or Bealach Cláir, is an inland town in County Antrim, approximately 11 km from the coast. Wind conditions here are generally influenced by the broader weather patterns affecting Ulster, particularly the Atlantic depressions that bring prevailing westerly and south-westerly winds across Ireland. Gusts will typically exceed the mean wind speed. The Wind Agent provides precise, localised wind information for Ballyclare, detailing current conditions, a 48-hour table, and 7-day gust forecasts. While coastal areas of County Antrim experience mean 10 m wind speeds of roughly 5.5-7.5 m/s, inland locations like Ballyclare typically see speeds around 4-5.5 m/s, according to approximate county-level ERA5-like data.

Seasonal pattern

In Ballyclare, as with much of Ireland, wind patterns show a seasonal variation. Winter months generally experience stronger winds, particularly from south-westerly and north-westerly directions, due to the increased frequency and intensity of Atlantic depressions. These systems can bring significant wind events. Conversely, summer months tend to have lighter winds. During warm, sunny summer afternoons, a local sea breeze effect can sometimes be observed in coastal areas of County Antrim, though its influence diminishes inland towards Ballyclare. The strongest winds are typically associated with frontal systems moving across the region.

Exposure and shelter

Ballyclare's inland location, approximately 11 km from the coast, means it is generally less exposed to direct coastal winds than locations elsewhere in County Antrim, such as the Causeway Coast or Rathlin. The town may experience some shelter from local terrain features. However, the broader Antrim Plateau and Slemish, elsewhere in the county, are known to be exposed. Wind can funnel through valleys or across open ground, potentially increasing local speeds. Buildings and local topography within Ballyclare will also create areas of shelter or localised funnelling effects, influencing wind conditions at ground level.

Local uses of the wind forecast

Accurate wind information is valuable for several activities in and around Ballyclare. For farming, knowing wind speed and direction is crucial for planning spraying and silage timing. Building and roofing work requires wind data for operational safety and material handling. The agri-food sector, a key part of the county economy, also benefits from understanding wind for various outdoor operations. While Ballyclare is not coastal, wind conditions can still affect outdoor recreational activities like walking. For the tourism sector in the county, wind forecasts inform visitors about conditions for outdoor pursuits, even if not directly in Ballyclare. Wind chill is also a factor to consider in colder, windier conditions.

Near Ballyclare

Ballyclare is in Co. Antrim, one of 26 towns we publish for the county. The nearest observing stations are George Best Belfast City Airport EGAC (METAR) (17 km), Belfast International Airport EGAA (METAR) (17 km) and City of Derry Airport EGAE (METAR) (81 km). The closest wind farm in our guide is Altahullion Wind Farm, about 61 km away.

Nearest spots

Questions about wind in Ballyclare

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Set your own limit and watch the odds at the live instrument for Ballyclare, or read how the numbers above are made.