Sports weather suitability in Galway
How much wind each sport can take, with the week's forecast winds in Galway 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 Galway forecast for rain and temperature, and the tide and swell before going on the sea.
Next 3 hours in Galway
1am23 km/hForce 4 · Sgusts 31
2am24 km/hForce 4 · Sgusts 32
3am25 km/hForce 4 · SEgusts 33
Steady wind up to 25 km/h (Force 4) over the next three hours, so:
- Good to goGaelic footballRugbyRunningWalkingHillwalkingSailingWindsurfingKitesurfing
- Hard workHurling and CamogieGolfRoad cyclingFishingTennisKayaking and canoeingStand-up paddleboardingOpen-water swimmingRowing
| Sport | Today32 km/hForce 5 gusts 52 · SE | Fri, 30 Oct35 km/hForce 5 gusts 48 · S | Sat, 31 Oct19 km/hForce 3 gusts 23 · N | Sun, 1 Nov15 km/hForce 3 gusts 27 · NE | Mon, 2 Nov14 km/hForce 3 gusts 28 · SE | Tue, 3 Nov7 km/hForce 2 gusts 25 · E | Wed, 4 Nov10 km/hForce 2 gusts 24 · SE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| On land | |||||||
| Gaelic football | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Hurling and Camogie | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Rugby | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Golf | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Road cycling | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Running | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Hillwalking | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Fishing | Too windy | Too windy | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Tennis | Too windy | Too windy | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| On the water | |||||||
| Sailing | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Too little | Good |
| Windsurfing | Good | Good | Good | Good | Too little | Too little | Too little |
| Kitesurfing | Good | Good | Too little | Too little | Too little | Too little | Too little |
| Kayaking and canoeing | Too windy | Too windy | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Stand-up paddleboarding | Too windy | Too windy | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Open-water swimming | Too windy | Too windy | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Rowing | Too windy | Too windy | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
GoodModerate: hard work, experienced onlyToo windyToo little wind
Good days this week
- Gaelic football: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Hurling and Camogie: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Rugby: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Golf: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Road cycling: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Running: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Walking: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Hillwalking: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Fishing: Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Tennis: Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Sailing: Sat, Sun, Mon and Wed
- Windsurfing: Today, Fri, Sat and Sun
- Kitesurfing: Today and Fri
- Kayaking and canoeing: Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Stand-up paddleboarding: Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Open-water swimming: Sun, Mon, Tue and Wed
- Rowing: 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).