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
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
The next days at Killybegs: speed, gust and direction.
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.
| Time | From | Wind km/h | Gust km/h | 80 m km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 13:00 | SSW | 2214 mph | 4125 mph | 4025 mph |
| Sun 14:00 | SSW | 2113 mph | 4125 mph | 3924 mph |
| Sun 15:00 | SW | 2415 mph | 4629 mph | 4327 mph |
| Sun 16:00 | SW | 2314 mph | 4327 mph | 4125 mph |
| Sun 17:00 | SW | 2214 mph | 4125 mph | 4025 mph |
| Sun 18:00 | SW | 2314 mph | 4427 mph | 4226 mph |
| Sun 19:00 | SW | 2415 mph | 4629 mph | 4327 mph |
| Sun 20:00 | SW | 2314 mph | 4528 mph | 4125 mph |
| Sun 21:00 | SW | 2214 mph | 4125 mph | 3924 mph |
| Sun 22:00 | SW | 2415 mph | 4528 mph | 4226 mph |
| Sun 23:00 | SW | 2314 mph | 4427 mph | 4025 mph |
| Mon 00:00 | SW | 2314 mph | 4528 mph | 4226 mph |
| Mon 01:00 | SW | 2314 mph | 4528 mph | 4125 mph |
| Mon 02:00 | SW | 2314 mph | 4427 mph | 4125 mph |
| Mon 03:00 | SW | 2817 mph | 5434 mph | 4930 mph |
| Mon 04:00 | SW | 2516 mph | 4930 mph | 4528 mph |
| Mon 05:00 | WSW | 2314 mph | 4427 mph | 4125 mph |
| Mon 06:00 | WSW | 2616 mph | 5031 mph | 4729 mph |
| Mon 07:00 | WSW | 2516 mph | 4629 mph | 4327 mph |
| Mon 08:00 | WSW | 2415 mph | 4629 mph | 4226 mph |
| Mon 09:00 | SW | 2314 mph | 4427 mph | 4125 mph |
| Mon 10:00 | SW | 2214 mph | 4226 mph | 3924 mph |
| Mon 11:00 | SW | 2214 mph | 4226 mph | 4025 mph |
| Mon 12:00 | WSW | 2113 mph | 4025 mph | 3824 mph |
| Mon 13:00 | WSW | 2012 mph | 3824 mph | 3622 mph |
| Mon 14:00 | WNW | 1610 mph | 2918 mph | 2918 mph |
| Mon 15:00 | W | 117 mph | 2113 mph | 2113 mph |
| Mon 16:00 | WNW | 74 mph | 149 mph | 1610 mph |
| Mon 17:00 | W | 85 mph | 159 mph | 1711 mph |
| Mon 18:00 | WNW | 53 mph | 117 mph | 138 mph |
| Mon 19:00 | NW | 21 mph | 42 mph | 74 mph |
| Mon 20:00 | W | 32 mph | 74 mph | 85 mph |
| Mon 21:00 | SW | 42 mph | 74 mph | 96 mph |
| Mon 22:00 | WSW | 42 mph | 74 mph | 96 mph |
| Mon 23:00 | WSW | 53 mph | 96 mph | 106 mph |
| Tue 00:00 | WSW | 53 mph | 96 mph | 106 mph |
| Tue 01:00 | W | 74 mph | 127 mph | 149 mph |
| Tue 02:00 | NW | 42 mph | 85 mph | 106 mph |
| Tue 03:00 | W | 53 mph | 106 mph | 127 mph |
| Tue 04:00 | W | 53 mph | 96 mph | 106 mph |
| Tue 05:00 | WNW | 53 mph | 96 mph | 117 mph |
| Tue 06:00 | NW | 127 mph | 2516 mph | 2516 mph |
| Tue 07:00 | NW | 96 mph | 1811 mph | 2012 mph |
| Tue 08:00 | WNW | 64 mph | 138 mph | 1711 mph |
| Tue 09:00 | WNW | 74 mph | 127 mph | 1610 mph |
| Tue 10:00 | WNW | 74 mph | 127 mph | 117 mph |
| Tue 11:00 | WNW | 96 mph | 1811 mph | 159 mph |
| Tue 12:00 | WNW | 117 mph | 2113 mph | 1811 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.
| Day | Max gust km/h | Max wind km/h | Mostly from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 4/10 | 4830 mph | 2516 mph | SW |
| Mon 5/10 | 5434 mph | 2817 mph | WSW |
| Tue 6/10 | 2817 mph | 149 mph | WNW |
| Wed 7/10 | 4528 mph | 2415 mph | WNW |
| Thu 8/10 | 3723 mph | 2012 mph | S |
| Fri 9/10 | 5434 mph | 3019 mph | W |
| Sat 10/10 | 5333 mph | 2817 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.
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.