Live conditions, wind forecasts and tide times for Galway Bay and the west coast, gathered from the sources our own crew checks before going afloat.
Right now
Current conditions & warnings
Planning
Wind & sea state forecast
Windguru's 10-day table for Galway Bay, with Windfinder's Rinville forecast alongside as a second model to compare against.
Timing
Galway tide times
Tide curve and today's highs and lows for Galway, with the Port of Galway's own tide tables below for the week ahead.
Galway Bay's tides shape almost everything about boating on this stretch of coast - from launching at the slip to the depth you'll find alongside a Connemara pier. Below is a guide to reading Galway's tides alongside our live tide tool, plus a link to the full Tide Tables 2026 for planning ahead on paper.
Galway Bay has a semi-diurnal tidal pattern - two high and two low tides roughly every 24 hours, around 6 hours 15 minutes apart. Tidal range here is significant compared with more sheltered stretches of coast, and spring tides (around new and full moon) can produce noticeably stronger currents and a bigger swing between high and low water than neap tides mid-cycle, so it's worth checking whether you're planning around springs or neaps, not just the time of high water.
Local depth at slips, piers and anchorages varies with this range, so a spot that's comfortably afloat at high water can dry out or leave very little clearance a few hours either side of low water - always check charted drying heights alongside the tide time. For planning ahead without relying on a live tool, our printed Tide Tables 2026 covers the full year for Galway and the west coast in one reference, useful to keep aboard as a backup to any app or website.
Tide chart — Galway
Source: Marea
Galway tide FAQs
How often does the tide change in Galway Bay?
Roughly every 6 hours 15 minutes, giving two high tides and two low tides in each 24-hour period (a semi-diurnal pattern).
What's the difference between spring and neap tides?
Springs (around new and full moon) produce the biggest difference between high and low water and the strongest currents; neaps, mid-way between springs, give a smaller range and gentler currents.
Where can I get a printed tide table for the year?
Our Tide Tables 2026 covers the full year for Galway and the west coast - useful as an on-board backup to any app.
Outlook
48-hour meteogram
Temperature, precipitation, wind and pressure for Galway at a glance.
Source: Yr, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK
On the water now
Buoy & port sensor observations
Hourly observations from the Finnis buoy at the mouth of Galway Bay, courtesy of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, alongside the Port of Galway's own instruments inside the harbour.
Finnis buoy — latest observation
Loading latest observation…
Source: Commissioners of Irish Lights MetOcean data (CC BY 4.0)
Port of Galway — live sensors
Wind speed, gust and direction from the port weather station, water depth from the tide gauge, and wave height, period and direction from the port buoy, updated live by the port's own instruments.
Source: Port of Galway weather dashboard — raw instrument readings, shown unfiltered and inside the harbour
- Port of Galway weather dashboard Wind, gust, pressure, water depth and wave height straight from the port's instruments.
- Irish weather buoy network — Marine Institute Live wave height, wind and sea temperature from the M-buoys offshore.
- Sea area forecast — Met Éireann The official coastal forecast. Always check this before a passage.
