Wind forecast Newtownabbey today

Wind in Newtownabbey right now

Meteogram and wind rose for Newtownabbey

Next 48 hours, hour by hour

Mean wind through the next 48 hours runs between 8 and 22 km/h (5 to 14 mph), mostly from the SW. The strongest gust is 43 km/h (27 mph) at Sun 19:00. 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 50 km/h (31 mph). The calmest is Tue 6/10, gusts to 23 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 Newtownabbey

Newtownabbey, or Baile na Mainistreach, is located in County Antrim, a coastal county in Ulster. As a coastal location, it experiences the direct influence of Atlantic weather systems. Wind speeds tend to be higher near the coast compared to inland areas. The county's dominant wind direction is southwesterly, which often brings the strongest winds across Ireland. Gusts are a common feature of wind in Ireland and will typically exceed the average wind speed, particularly during periods of strong winds. The Wind Agent provides live wind data for Newtownabbey, including current conditions, a 48-hour table, and 7-day gust forecasts, which can be particularly useful given the variability of wind patterns.

Seasonal pattern

In Newtownabbey, as with much of Ireland, the strongest winds are generally observed during the winter months. This is when southwesterly and north-westerly winds, associated with depressions tracking across the Atlantic, are most prevalent. Coastal areas in County Antrim typically experience mean 10-meter wind speeds of roughly 5.5-7.5 m/s, with inland areas seeing around 4-5.5 m/s. While these are county-level approximations, they indicate a general pattern. Summer often brings lighter winds, though sea breezes can develop on warm, sunny afternoons, providing a local, temporary increase in wind speed near the coast. The 7-day gust forecast can help anticipate short-term variations.

Exposure and shelter

Newtownabbey's coastal location means it is exposed to winds, though the specific degree of exposure can depend on the local topography and the direction of the coast. Belfast Lough, which is nearby, offers some partial shelter compared to more open coastal areas elsewhere in the county. However, coastal areas generally experience higher wind speeds than inland locations. Wind exposure can be influenced by nearby structures or terrain, which may offer shelter in their lee, or, conversely, channel wind, leading to localised increases in speed. The presence of Belfast Harbour approximately 4 km away and George Best Belfast City Airport about 5 km away suggests a relatively open environment in parts of the area.

Local uses of the wind forecast

Wind forecasts are valuable for various activities in Newtownabbey. For the aerospace & engineering sector, understanding wind conditions is critical for operations, particularly at nearby George Best Belfast City Airport. The ports & shipping industry, centred around Belfast Harbour, relies on accurate wind data for navigation and cargo handling. In the agri-food sector, wind can affect crop spraying and silage timing. For those involved in wind energy, the forecast helps assess generation potential. General activities like building and roofing, walking, and sea use (given the coastal location) also benefit from knowing current and future wind conditions, including potential wind chill.

Near Newtownabbey

Newtownabbey 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) (5 km), Belfast International Airport EGAA (METAR) (20 km) and City of Derry Airport EGAE (METAR) (91 km). The closest wind farm in our guide is Altahullion Wind Farm, about 70 km away.

Nearest spots

Questions about wind in Newtownabbey

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