― WIND · CO. DONEGAL

Wind forecast Killybegs today

Now 21 km/h SSW, gusts 41 km/h (13 mph, gusts 25 mph) at Killybegs (Na Cealla Beaga), Co. Donegal. That is Beaufort force 4, a moderate breeze, and the wind is steady over the next six hours. Modelled for Sun 13:45 Irish time.

Wind in Killybegs right now

WIND AT 10 M21 km/h13 mphfrom the SSW (212°)
GUST AT 10 M41 km/h25 mphhighest short burst the model expects this hour
WIND AT 80 M39 km/h24 mphtypical turbine hub height range
WIND AT 120 M43 km/h27 mphupper rotor height

WINDIEST HOUR TODAY10:00: 25 km/h (16 mph) from the SW, gusting 48 km/h (30 mph).

NEAREST STATION OBSERVATIONSligo Airport (EISG, 40 km away): 13 km/h (8 mph) from the S. Measured at 12:30, 91 minutes old when this page was built (stale, treat with care).

Meteogram and wind rose for Killybegs

Meteogram Killybegs
CHART LOADINGmeteogramReading Killybegs…

The next days at Killybegs: speed, gust and direction.

Wind rose Killybegs
CHART LOADINGwind_roseReading Killybegs…

How often the wind blows from each direction at Killybegs, from reanalysis.

Next 48 hours, hour by hour

Mean wind through the next 48 hours runs between 2 and 28 km/h (1 to 17 mph), mostly from the SW. The strongest gust is 54 km/h (34 mph) at Mon 03:00. Speeds are in km/h with miles per hour underneath. Direction is where the wind comes from.

TimeFromWind km/hGust km/h80 m km/h
Sun 13:00 SSW2214 mph4125 mph4025 mph
Sun 14:00 SSW2113 mph4125 mph3924 mph
Sun 15:00 SW2415 mph4629 mph4327 mph
Sun 16:00 SW2314 mph4327 mph4125 mph
Sun 17:00 SW2214 mph4125 mph4025 mph
Sun 18:00 SW2314 mph4427 mph4226 mph
Sun 19:00 SW2415 mph4629 mph4327 mph
Sun 20:00 SW2314 mph4528 mph4125 mph
Sun 21:00 SW2214 mph4125 mph3924 mph
Sun 22:00 SW2415 mph4528 mph4226 mph
Sun 23:00 SW2314 mph4427 mph4025 mph
Mon 00:00 SW2314 mph4528 mph4226 mph
Mon 01:00 SW2314 mph4528 mph4125 mph
Mon 02:00 SW2314 mph4427 mph4125 mph
Mon 03:00 SW2817 mph5434 mph4930 mph
Mon 04:00 SW2516 mph4930 mph4528 mph
Mon 05:00 WSW2314 mph4427 mph4125 mph
Mon 06:00 WSW2616 mph5031 mph4729 mph
Mon 07:00 WSW2516 mph4629 mph4327 mph
Mon 08:00 WSW2415 mph4629 mph4226 mph
Mon 09:00 SW2314 mph4427 mph4125 mph
Mon 10:00 SW2214 mph4226 mph3924 mph
Mon 11:00 SW2214 mph4226 mph4025 mph
Mon 12:00 WSW2113 mph4025 mph3824 mph
Mon 13:00 WSW2012 mph3824 mph3622 mph
Mon 14:00 WNW1610 mph2918 mph2918 mph
Mon 15:00 W117 mph2113 mph2113 mph
Mon 16:00 WNW74 mph149 mph1610 mph
Mon 17:00 W85 mph159 mph1711 mph
Mon 18:00 WNW53 mph117 mph138 mph
Mon 19:00 NW21 mph42 mph74 mph
Mon 20:00 W32 mph74 mph85 mph
Mon 21:00 SW42 mph74 mph96 mph
Mon 22:00 WSW42 mph74 mph96 mph
Mon 23:00 WSW53 mph96 mph106 mph
Tue 00:00 WSW53 mph96 mph106 mph
Tue 01:00 W74 mph127 mph149 mph
Tue 02:00 NW42 mph85 mph106 mph
Tue 03:00 W53 mph106 mph127 mph
Tue 04:00 W53 mph96 mph106 mph
Tue 05:00 WNW53 mph96 mph117 mph
Tue 06:00 NW127 mph2516 mph2516 mph
Tue 07:00 NW96 mph1811 mph2012 mph
Tue 08:00 WNW64 mph138 mph1711 mph
Tue 09:00 WNW74 mph127 mph1610 mph
Tue 10:00 WNW74 mph127 mph117 mph
Tue 11:00 WNW96 mph1811 mph159 mph
Tue 12:00 WNW117 mph2113 mph1811 mph

Seven-day gust outlook

The windiest day of the week is Mon 5/10 with gusts to 54 km/h (34 mph). The calmest is Tue 6/10, gusts to 28 km/h (17 mph). Later days are less certain than the first two: the further out, the more the models can disagree.

DayMax gust km/hMax wind km/hMostly from
Sun 4/104830 mph2516 mph SW
Mon 5/105434 mph2817 mph WSW
Tue 6/102817 mph149 mph WNW
Wed 7/104528 mph2415 mph WNW
Thu 8/103723 mph2012 mph S
Fri 9/105434 mph3019 mph W
Sat 10/105333 mph2817 mph WNW

What the wind does in Killybegs

Killybegs, or Na Cealla Beaga, in County Donegal, experiences wind patterns typical of Ireland's Atlantic coast. The prevailing winds are from the west and southwest, influenced by Atlantic depressions that frequently track across the North Atlantic. These systems bring stronger winds, particularly during the cooler months. As a coastal location, Killybegs is directly exposed to these marine influences. Wind speeds are generally higher at the coast compared to inland areas, and gusts will consistently exceed the mean wind speed, often by a significant margin. The wind's interaction with the immediate coastal terrain can also create localised effects, influencing its speed and direction within the town and harbour area.

Seasonal pattern

The seasonal wind pattern in Killybegs follows the general trend for County Donegal, with the strongest and gustiest conditions typically occurring from November to February. This period is characterised by frequent and intense Atlantic depressions. Conversely, the lightest winds are generally observed from June to August. During these summer months, while overall wind speeds are lower, coastal areas like Killybegs can experience a sea breeze effect. This phenomenon, driven by differential heating between land and sea, can lead to a noticeable increase in wind speed during the afternoon, providing a local uplift to the otherwise lighter summer conditions.

Exposure and shelter

Killybegs' position on the coast means it is exposed to winds directly from the Atlantic, particularly from westerly and south-westerly directions. The county's deeply indented coastline and hills contribute to varied exposure levels. While the town itself is coastal, local topography, including any surrounding hills or buildings, will offer degrees of shelter. Areas directly facing the open sea will experience the full force of incoming winds, whereas locations in the lee of natural or artificial structures will have reduced wind speeds. It is important to note that even in sheltered spots, strong gusts can still be significant.

Local uses of the wind forecast

For Killybegs, a town with a significant fishing industry, understanding wind conditions is crucial for operational planning and vessel movements, particularly in and around Killybegs Harbour. Wind forecasts are also important for the agriculture sector in County Donegal, informing decisions on activities such as spraying and silage timing. Tourism, including surf and golf tourism, relies on wind information for activity planning. Furthermore, general applications such as building and roofing work, and the timing of outdoor activities like walking or use of GAA pitches, benefit from accurate wind data to ensure efficient and effective planning.

Near Killybegs

Killybegs is in Co. Donegal, one of 19 towns we publish for the county. The nearest observing stations are Finner (21 km), Sligo Airport EISG (METAR) (40 km) and Donegal Airport EIDL (METAR) (46 km). The closest wind farm in our guide is Barnesmore Wind Farm, about 29 km away.

Nearest spots

Questions about wind in Killybegs

When is Killybegs typically windiest?

Killybegs generally experiences its strongest and gustiest winds from November to February. This is due to the increased frequency and intensity of Atlantic depressions during the winter months. The lightest winds are usually observed from June to August.

Which wind direction typically brings the strongest gusts to Killybegs?

The strongest gusts in Killybegs typically arrive with winds from the west and southwest. These directions are associated with Atlantic weather systems that bring significant wind energy from the open ocean directly to the Irish coast.

How does the gust speed relate to the mean wind speed shown for Killybegs?

The gust speed represents the maximum instantaneous wind speed recorded over a short period, typically three seconds. It will always be higher than the mean wind speed, which is an average over a longer duration, usually ten minutes. Gusts are a critical factor for assessing wind impact.

Go deeper

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

Coast, sea & terrain · a local phenomenonSea breeze: the coastal wind that appears from nowhereThe sea breeze is a local wind system driven by differential heating between land and sea. It can significantly alter the local wind field, often appearing as a fresh, cool wind on otherwise calm, sunny days.Read Coast, sea & terrain · how topography shapes windHeadlands and funnelling: local wind effects near complex terrainWind flow around coastal headlands and through narrow channels can accelerate significantly, often exceeding speeds forecast for open water. This article explains the physical mechanisms and practical implications of these localised effects, which are frequently missed by numerical weather models.Read Fundamentals · the physics behind every numberHow wind works: pressure, rotation, friction and heightWind is air moving from high to low pressure, bent by the Earth's rotation, slowed and roughened by the ground, and different at every height. Each of those four facts shows up in the numbers you read on the instrument.Read Reading our instruments · the ratio of gust to mean windGust factor: how much stronger are the gusts?The gust factor quantifies the relationship between the peak wind speed (gust) and the average wind speed (mean). It is a critical metric for understanding the true forces acting on structures and equipment, as gusts often dictate operational limits and safety margins. This article explores its typical ranges,…Read Forecasting & models · understanding the hourly traceReading a meteogram: your hourly forecast at a glanceA meteogram displays an hourly forecast of key weather parameters for a specific location, typically including wind speed, gust, direction, pressure, and precipitation. Understanding its components allows for a quick assessment of upcoming conditions and potential changes.Read

Forecast: modelled wind from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0, underlying ICON, GFS and ECMWF model data), not a measurement at a site. Observation: airport METAR or buoy via aviationweather.gov and NDBC where one reports within 90 km. Heights are metres above ground. Missing values are UNKNOWN and never filled with zero. Last built 13:56 Irish time. Your threshold, your procedure, your call.