Sports weather suitability in Athlone
How much wind each sport can take, with the week's forecast winds in Athlone set against those limits: sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, golf, cycling, the GAA pitch, rugby and more. Wind is only part of it, so check the Athlone forecast for rain and temperature, and the tide and swell before going on the sea.
Next 3 hours in Athlone
1am13 km/hForce 3 · Sgusts 23
2am14 km/hForce 3 · Sgusts 23
3am13 km/hForce 3 · Sgusts 22
Steady wind up to 14 km/h (Force 3) over the next three hours, so:
- Good to goGaelic footballHurling and CamogieRugbyGolfRoad cyclingRunningWalkingHillwalkingFishingTennisSailingKayaking and canoeingStand-up paddleboardingOpen-water swimmingRowing
- Too little windWindsurfingKitesurfing
| Sport | Today24 km/hForce 4 gusts 45 · SE | Fri, 30 Oct22 km/hForce 4 gusts 40 · S | Sat, 31 Oct13 km/hForce 3 gusts 22 · S | Sun, 1 Nov14 km/hForce 3 gusts 28 · NE | Mon, 2 Nov13 km/hForce 3 gusts 29 · E | Tue, 3 Nov9 km/hForce 2 gusts 26 · E | Wed, 4 Nov13 km/hForce 3 gusts 25 · E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On land | |||||||
| Gaelic football | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Hurling and Camogie | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Rugby | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Golf | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Road cycling | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Running | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Walking | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Hillwalking | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Fishing | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Tennis | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| On the water | |||||||
| Sailing | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Windsurfing | Good | Good | Too little | Too little | Too little | Too little | Too little |
| Kitesurfing | Good | Good | Too little | Too little | Too little | Too little | Too little |
| Kayaking and canoeing | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Stand-up paddleboarding | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Open-water swimming | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Rowing | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
GoodModerate: hard work, experienced onlyToo windyToo little wind
Good days this week
- Gaelic football: every day
- Hurling and Camogie: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Rugby: every day
- Golf: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Road cycling: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Running: every day
- Walking: every day
- Hillwalking: every day
- Fishing: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Tennis: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Sailing: every day
- Windsurfing: Today and Fri
- Kitesurfing: Today and Fri
- Kayaking and canoeing: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Stand-up paddleboarding: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Open-water swimming: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Rowing: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
| Sport | Good | Moderate | Too windy |
|---|---|---|---|
| On land | |||
| Gaelic football | up to 25 km/h (13 kn) | 25–45 km/h (13–24 kn) | over 45 km/h (24 kn) |
| Hurling and Camogie | up to 20 km/h (11 kn) | 20–40 km/h (11–22 kn) | over 40 km/h (22 kn) |
| Rugby | up to 25 km/h (13 kn) | 25–45 km/h (13–24 kn) | over 45 km/h (24 kn) |
| Golf | up to 20 km/h (11 kn) | 20–40 km/h (11–22 kn) | over 40 km/h (22 kn) |
| Road cycling | up to 20 km/h (11 kn) | 20–40 km/h (11–22 kn) | over 40 km/h (22 kn) |
| Running | up to 25 km/h (13 kn) | 25–45 km/h (13–24 kn) | over 45 km/h (24 kn) |
| Walking | up to 30 km/h (16 kn) | 30–50 km/h (16–27 kn) | over 50 km/h (27 kn) |
| Hillwalking | up to 30 km/h (16 kn) | 30–50 km/h (16–27 kn) | over 50 km/h (27 kn) |
| Fishing | up to 20 km/h (11 kn) | 20–30 km/h (11–16 kn) | over 30 km/h (16 kn) |
| Tennis | up to 15 km/h (8 kn) | 15–30 km/h (8–16 kn) | over 30 km/h (16 kn) |
| On the water | |||
| Sailing | 8–28 km/h (4–15 kn)under 8 km/h: too little | 28–40 km/h (15–22 kn) | over 40 km/h (22 kn) |
| Windsurfing | 15–40 km/h (8–22 kn)under 15 km/h: too little | 40–55 km/h (22–30 kn) | over 55 km/h (30 kn) |
| Kitesurfing | 20–45 km/h (11–24 kn)under 20 km/h: too little | 45–55 km/h (24–30 kn) | over 55 km/h (30 kn) |
| Kayaking and canoeing | up to 18 km/h (10 kn) | 18–30 km/h (10–16 kn) | over 30 km/h (16 kn) |
| Stand-up paddleboarding | up to 15 km/h (8 kn) | 15–25 km/h (8–13 kn) | over 25 km/h (13 kn) |
| Open-water swimming | up to 15 km/h (8 kn) | 15–28 km/h (8–15 kn) | over 28 km/h (15 kn) |
| Rowing | up to 15 km/h (8 kn) | 15–25 km/h (8–13 kn) | over 25 km/h (13 kn) |
Sport by sport
- Gaelic football. The heavier ball holds its line better than a sliotar, but kick-outs and long-range frees swing from 25 km/h. Matches tend to go ahead unless a warning is in force.
- Hurling and Camogie. A sliotar carries far further with the wind than against it, so from 20 km/h the toss matters. Over 40 km/h the ball will not go where it is struck. Matches are usually called off only under an orange or red warning.
- Rugby. The oval ball swings more than a round one, so place-kicks, box kicks and the lineout throw suffer from 25 km/h, and over 45 km/h kicking at goal is a lottery. Matches go ahead in most weather; postponements usually follow an orange or red warning or an unplayable pitch.
- Golf. From 20 km/h take a club more or less. Over 40 km/h the ball will not sit still on the green, and links courses may close.
- Road cycling. Crosswinds are the danger. Over 40 km/h a gust can push you across the road, and deep-section wheels should stay at home.
- Running. Plan the route to finish with the wind behind you. Over 45 km/h watch for falling branches and debris.
- Walking. Any day is a walking day with the right coat. Over 50 km/h keep out of woods and away from the sea wall, where waves and falling branches are the danger.
- Hillwalking. Summits are far windier than the towns below, often half as much again. Over 50 km/h in the valley makes exposed ridges dangerous.
- Fishing. Shore, boat, lake and river. Fly casting into more than 30 km/h is hard work; on the big loughs a boat should be off the water by Force 5; rock marks are dangerous in an onshore wind and swell.
- Tennis. Over 30 km/h the ball will not go where it was hit.
- Sailing. Dinghies and small keelboats. Under 8 km/h you drift. Force 5 (29–38 km/h) is for experienced crews, and most clubs call off beginners by Force 6.
- Windsurfing. Planing starts at about 18 km/h. Beginners learn best under 25 km/h; over 55 km/h is for experts only.
- Kitesurfing. Needs about 20 km/h to fly a kite with power. An offshore wind is dangerous at any strength.
- Kayaking and canoeing. Sea and lake paddling. Over 30 km/h (Force 5) is for experienced sea kayakers only, and an offshore wind can carry you out.
- Stand-up paddleboarding. A board and a standing paddler catch the wind. Beginners should stay under 15 km/h, and nobody should paddle out in an offshore wind.
- Open-water swimming. Wind builds chop. From Force 4 the sea shows white horses; over 28 km/h stay close to shore, or stay out.
- Rowing. Fine boats need flat water. Clubs usually stop outings at about 25 km/h.
Reading the wind
The forecast wind is the steady wind 10 m above open ground; gusts can be half as strong again, and on the water they matter as much as the steady wind. Each day shows the strongest hour between 8am and 8pm, so a day rated moderate may still have a calm morning: the hourly forecast on the map will show it. The limits are for a competent recreational participant; beginners should treat moderate as too much. Local effects matter too: sea breezes pick up on summer afternoons, winds funnel through gaps and along cliffs, and hills are always windier than the forecast for the town below. Surfing is left out because it depends on the swell and the wind direction more than the wind strength.
Beaufort scale: Force 3 is 12–19 km/h (a gentle breeze), Force 4 20–28 (moderate, white horses at sea), Force 5 29–38 (fresh), Force 6 39–49 (strong), Force 7 50–61 (near gale), Force 8 62–74 (gale).