Wind forecast Kilrea today

Wind in Kilrea right now

Meteogram and wind rose for Kilrea

Next 48 hours, hour by hour

Mean wind through the next 48 hours runs between 3 and 20 km/h (2 to 12 mph), mostly from the SSW. The strongest gust is 37 km/h (23 mph) at Sun 15:00. 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 Sat 10/10 with gusts to 44 km/h (27 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 Kilrea

Kilrea, or Cill Ria, is an inland town in County Londonderry. As an inland location, it typically experiences less wind than coastal areas. County Londonderry's coastal mean wind at 10 metres is roughly 5.5-7.5 metres per second, while inland areas like Kilrea generally see around 4-5.5 metres per second. Wind speeds are usually higher at increased heights, such as 80 metres or 120 metres above ground, where wind turbines are measured. Gusts, which are short, sudden increases in wind speed, will frequently exceed the mean wind speed. The strongest winds in the county generally come from southwesterly and northwesterly directions, particularly during winter months. The Atlantic weather systems that cross Ireland are the primary drivers of wind patterns here.

Seasonal pattern

Across Ireland, including Kilrea, the windiest months are typically from autumn through to spring, with December and January often being the windiest. During these periods, depressions from the Atlantic frequently bring strong winds and gales. Summer months, particularly July and August, generally have lighter winds. However, even in summer, occasional strong winds can occur, often associated with convective weather. On calm, sunny summer afternoons, a local sea breeze might develop near the coast, but this effect is less pronounced in inland locations like Kilrea, which is 28 km from the coast. Winter southwesterlies and northwesterlies are noted as bringing the strongest wind to County Londonderry.

Exposure and shelter

Kilrea's inland location means it benefits from some shelter compared to the exposed coastline of County Londonderry. While the county has a coastline that is very exposed to northwest winds, Kilrea's position 28 km from the sea reduces direct exposure to oceanic winds. Local topography, such as buildings, trees, and minor undulations in the terrain, will create localised shelter and funnelling effects. Wind speeds can be lower on the lee side of obstacles and higher where wind is channelled. Elsewhere in County Londonderry, ridgelines like Binevenagh and the Sperrins are known to funnel and accelerate wind, but these are not in the immediate vicinity of Kilrea.

Local uses of the wind forecast

Accurate wind forecasts are valuable for several activities in Kilrea. For the agri-food sector, including farming, wind data is crucial for timing operations such as spraying, silage making, and managing livestock, as strong winds can affect crop health and animal welfare. Building and roofing work requires careful consideration of wind speed, especially at height, for worker safety and material handling. For walking and outdoor activities, understanding wind chill, which increases with wind speed, is important for comfort and safety. Although not coastal, awareness of wind direction and strength is useful for those travelling to nearby coastal areas like Coleraine Harbour or Portstewart Strand for sea-based activities.

Near Kilrea

Kilrea is in Co. Derry / Londonderry, one of 18 towns we publish for the county. The nearest observing stations are Belfast International Airport EGAA (METAR) (39 km), City of Derry Airport EGAE (METAR) (40 km) and George Best Belfast City Airport EGAC (METAR) (57 km). The closest wind farm in our guide is Altahullion Wind Farm, about 22 km away.

Nearest spots

Questions about wind in Kilrea

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