Wind forecast Newcastle today

Wind in Newcastle right now

Meteogram and wind rose for Newcastle

Next 48 hours, hour by hour

Mean wind through the next 48 hours runs between 5 and 20 km/h (3 to 12 mph), mostly from the WSW. The strongest gust is 42 km/h (26 mph) at Mon 16:00. 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 Fri 9/10 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 Newcastle

Newcastle, or An Caisleán Nua, is a coastal town in County Down, Northern Ireland. The prevailing winds across Ireland are from the west and southwest, bringing frequent Atlantic depressions. These systems often result in stronger winds, particularly during the autumn and winter months. Gusts can significantly exceed the mean wind speed, especially during these periods. Coastal areas like Newcastle typically experience higher average wind speeds than inland locations. County Down's coastal mean 10 m wind is roughly 5.5-7.5 m/s, with inland areas seeing around 4-5.5 m/s. These figures are approximate and based on ERA5-like data. The nearby coast faces the Irish Sea and the North Channel, influencing local wind patterns.

Seasonal pattern

The seasonal wind pattern in Newcastle generally follows that of Ireland, with the strongest winds typically occurring from autumn through to spring. Winter southwesterlies and north-westerlies are often associated with the highest wind speeds. During the summer months, winds tend to be lighter. On warm, sunny days, a sea breeze may develop along the coast, typically strengthening in the afternoon as the land heats up more quickly than the sea. This can provide a localised increase in wind speed near the shoreline. Coastal stations and offshore buoys in County Down often register approaching weather fronts several hours before inland locations, serving as an early indicator of changing conditions.

Exposure and shelter

As a coastal town, Newcastle is generally more exposed to wind than inland areas. The specific exposure will depend on the direction of the wind relative to the coastline and any local terrain features. While the town itself is coastal, the county features terrain such as the Mournes which can influence wind patterns elsewhere in the county, creating funnelled easterlies and westerly gusts in specific passes. Local buildings and immediate terrain can provide shelter, reducing wind speeds at ground level in their lee. However, at heights of 10 m and above, the effect of local obstructions diminishes, and the regional wind flow becomes more dominant.

Local uses of the wind forecast

Accurate wind information is valuable for several activities in Newcastle. For the agri-food sector and farming, understanding wind speed and direction is crucial for tasks like spraying and timing silage cuts. Tourism, a significant sector in County Down, benefits from wind data for outdoor activities such as walking, particularly on exposed routes. The fishing industry and those involved in sailing and marine leisure rely on wind forecasts for operational planning and safety on the Irish Sea. Building and roofing work also requires knowledge of wind conditions, especially at height, to ensure materials are handled appropriately and for worker safety. For golf at Royal County Down, wind is a key factor influencing play.

Near Newcastle

Newcastle is in Co. Down, one of 37 towns we publish for the county. The nearest observing stations are George Best Belfast City Airport EGAC (METAR) (44 km), Belfast International Airport EGAA (METAR) (53 km) and Dublin Airport (91 km). The closest wind farm in our guide is Altahullion Wind Farm, about 103 km away.

Nearest spots

Questions about wind in Newcastle

Go deeper

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