Dipper › Co. Donegal

Downings

Excellent Quality 2025 Blue Flag faces NNW

Any tidePrefer highPrefer low
Dip score now
69
Decent · moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore
Waves
1.2 m
12 s period from NW · model cell 3.6 km out
Sea
15.1°
Grand. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 246 km away.
Tide
3.0 m
Rising, nearly high. High at 10:05.
Wind
26 km/h
Moderate breeze, SSE, offshore, gusts 38
Daylight
07:35
Sunrise. Sunset 19:06. Air 13°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours
Today
16:00
Decent 73/100
gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m · 1.1 m · 16 km/h
▼ 03:55 ▲ 10:05 ▼ 16:30 ▲ 22:40
Sat, 3 Oct
11:00
Decent 76/100
gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m · 1.0 m · 15 km/h
▼ 04:55 ▲ 11:05 ▼ 17:40 ▲ 23:50
Sun, 4 Oct
08:00
Decent 66/100
moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m · 1.0 m · 27 km/h
▼ 06:00 ▲ 12:30 ▼ 19:20
Mon, 5 Oct
10:00
Fresh 58/100
moderate breeze, showers possible, waves 1.4 m · 1.4 m · 25 km/h
▲ 01:25 ▼ 07:30 ▲ 14:05 ▼ 20:45
Tue, 6 Oct
10:00
Decent 71/100
light winds, showers possible, waves 1.3 m · 1.3 m · 12 km/h
▲ 03:00 ▼ 09:10 ▲ 15:30 ▼ 22:00
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Decent 79/100
gentle breeze, rain, low tide · 18 km/h
▲ 04:05 ▼ 10:10 ▲ 16:30 ▼ 22:45
Thu, 8 Oct
13:00
Grand 83/100
gentle breeze, showers possible · 13 km/h
▲ 05:00 ▼ 11:05 ▲ 17:15 ▼ 23:40

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Fri 08:0069 · Decentmoderate breeze · offshore, flatter inshore
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 02:00 · 73 Decent · nightFri 03:00 · 73 Decent · nightFri 04:00 · 73 Decent · nightFri 05:00 · 69 Decent · nightFri 06:00 · 69 Decent · nightFri 07:00 · 69 Decent · nightFri 08:00 · 69 DecentFri 09:00 · 69 DecentFri 10:00 · 61 FreshFri 11:00 · 55 FreshFri 12:00 · 52 FreshFri 13:00 · 56 FreshFri 14:00 · 55 FreshFri 15:00 · 68 DecentFri 16:00 · 73 DecentFri 17:00 · 73 DecentFri 18:00 · 63 DecentFri 19:00 · 63 DecentFri 20:00 · 63 Decent · nightFri 21:00 · 73 Decent · nightFri 22:00 · 73 Decent · nightFri 23:00 · 63 Decent · nightSat 00:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 01:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 02:00 · 68 Decent · nightSat 03:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 04:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 05:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 06:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 07:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 08:00 · 73 DecentSat 09:00 · 73 DecentSat 10:00 · 73 DecentSat 11:00 · 76 DecentSat 12:00 · 76 DecentSat 13:00 · 76 DecentSat 14:00 · 76 DecentSat 15:00 · 76 DecentSat 16:00 · 72 DecentSat 17:00 · 76 DecentSat 18:00 · 76 DecentSat 19:00 · 76 DecentSat 20:00 · 76 Decent · nightSat 21:00 · 72 Decent · nightSat 22:00 · 72 Decent · nightSat 23:00 · 72 Decent · nightSun 00:00 · 72 Decent · nightSun 01:00 · 72 Decent · nightSun 02:00 · 72 Decent · nightSun 03:00 · 72 Decent · nightSun 04:00 · 42 Blowy · nightSun 05:00 · 42 Blowy · nightSun 06:00 · 58 Fresh · nightSun 07:00 · 58 Fresh · nightSun 08:00 · 66 DecentSun 09:00 · 66 DecentSun 10:00 · 66 DecentSun 11:00 · 66 DecentSun 12:00 · 66 DecentSun 13:00 · 66 DecentSun 14:00 · 66 DecentSun 15:00 · 66 DecentSun 16:00 · 66 DecentSun 17:00 · 66 DecentSun 18:00 · 50 FreshSun 19:00 · 66 DecentSun 20:00 · 50 Fresh · nightSun 21:00 · 66 Decent · nightSun 22:00 · 66 Decent · nightSun 23:00 · 66 Decent · nightMon 00:00 · 50 Fresh · nightMon 01:00 · 50 Fresh · nightMon 02:00 · 50 Fresh · nightMon 03:00 · 50 Fresh · nightMon 04:00 · 50 Fresh · nightMon 05:00 · 50 Fresh · nightMon 06:00 · 50 Fresh · nightMon 07:00 · 50 Fresh · nightMon 10:00 · 58 FreshMon 13:00 · 55 FreshMon 16:00 · 58 FreshMon 19:00 · 58 FreshMon 22:00 · 68 Decent · nightTue 01:00 · 63 Decent · nightTue 04:00 · 65 Decent · nightTue 07:00 · 65 Decent · nightTue 10:00 · 71 DecentTue 13:00 · 65 DecentTue 16:00 · 65 DecentTue 19:00 · 65 DecentTue 22:00 · 71 Decent · nightWed 01:00 · 71 Decent · nightWed 04:00 · 84 Grand · nightWed 07:00 · 78 Decent · nightWed 10:00 · 79 DecentWed 13:00 · 69 DecentWed 19:00 · 67 DecentThu 01:00 · 63 Decent · nightThu 07:00 · 83 Grand · nightThu 13:00 · 83 GrandThu 19:00 · 79 Decent

Fri, 2 Oct, 08:00

69 Decent
  • moderate breeze
  • offshore, flatter inshore
  • dry
  • waves 1.2 m
  • offshore wind
NESWsunrisesunset1.2 m26 km/h
faces 340° NNW · wind offshore
Waves
1.2 m @ 12 s from NW
Wind
26 km/h SSE · gusts 38
Tide
3.0 m · upper half
Air
13°C · dry

Meteogram

Score, waves, wind (green offshore, amber cross, red onshore), rain and air, tide

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
07:0069 Decent1.3 m (1.1 swell)12 sNW22 km/h S382.3 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
08:0069 Decent1.2 m (1.1 swell)12 sNW26 km/h SSE383.0 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
09:0069 Decent1.2 m (1.0 swell)12 sNW24 km/h SSE413.5 m ▲dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
10:0061 Fresh1.2 m (1.0 swell)12 sNW26 km/h S433.8 m ▲0.3 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible
11:0055 Fresh1.1 m (1.0 swell)12 sNW22 km/h S443.7 m ▲0.6 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
12:0052 Fresh1.1 m (0.9 swell)11 sNW21 km/h S413.3 m 1.6 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
13:0056 Fresh1.1 m (0.9 swell)11 sNW15 km/h SSE402.7 m 1.6 mm13°gentle breeze, rain, waves 1.1 m
14:0055 Fresh1.1 m (0.9 swell)11 sNW21 km/h SSW402.1 m 1.1 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, rain
15:0068 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW18 km/h SW391.5 m 0.6 mm13°gentle breeze, showers possible, waves 1.1 m
16:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW16 km/h SW361.1 m ▼0.1 mm13°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
17:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h WSW371.1 m ▼dry13°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
18:0063 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW23 km/h WSW381.4 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
19:0063 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW24 km/h W351.9 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
20:0063 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW20 km/h WSW302.5 m dry12°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
21:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW14 km/h WSW283.0 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
22:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW16 km/h WSW293.4 m ▲dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
23:0063 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW21 km/h W283.5 m ▲dry12°moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
Saturday, 3 October
00:0073 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW16 km/h WSW263.3 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
01:0073 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW13 km/h SW242.8 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
02:0068 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW13 km/h SW232.3 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
03:0073 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW13 km/h SW221.7 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
04:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h WSW221.3 m ▼dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.2 m
05:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW18 km/h WSW211.2 m ▼dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
06:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW16 km/h WSW221.4 m ▼dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
07:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW17 km/h WSW221.8 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
08:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW18 km/h WSW222.3 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
09:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW17 km/h WSW212.9 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
10:0073 Decent1.1 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW17 km/h WSW223.4 m ▲dry13°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
11:0076 Decent1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW15 km/h SW263.6 m ▲dry13°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
12:0076 Decent1.0 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW16 km/h SW273.5 m ▲dry14°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
13:0076 Decent1.0 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW18 km/h SSW273.2 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
14:0076 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW19 km/h SSW282.8 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
15:0076 Decent0.9 m (0.4 swell)10 sNW18 km/h SSW292.2 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
16:0072 Decent0.9 m (0.4 swell)10 sNW21 km/h SSW291.7 m dry15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
17:0076 Decent0.9 m (0.4 swell)10 sNW19 km/h SSW281.4 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
18:0076 Decent0.8 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW17 km/h SSW271.3 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
19:0076 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW17 km/h S241.5 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
20:0076 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW19 km/h S261.9 m dry13°gentle breeze, dry, waves 0.9 m
21:0072 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW22 km/h S292.3 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
22:0072 Decent0.9 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW25 km/h S322.8 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
23:0072 Decent0.9 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW343.1 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
Sunday, 4 October
00:0072 Decent1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW26 km/h S363.2 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
01:0072 Decent1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW26 km/h S393.1 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
02:0072 Decent1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW482.8 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
03:0072 Decent1.0 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW482.4 m 0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
04:0042 Blowy1.0 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW30 km/h SSW471.9 m 0.1 mm14°fresh breeze, showers possible, waves 1.0 m
05:0042 Blowy1.0 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW29 km/h SW471.6 m ▼0.2 mm15°fresh breeze, showers possible, waves 1.0 m
06:0058 Fresh1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SW471.4 m ▼0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, showers possible, waves 1.0 m

Where the energy comes from

Wave energy (H²·T) this week by direction, against the swell window

Swell arriving between W and NE reaches this spot; anything else is blocked by land and counts for much less.

Tide today

Tory Island (modelled), 23 km away · metres above chart datum
03:5510:0516:3022:40
Low 03:55 · 0.9 mHigh 10:05 · 3.8 mLow 16:30 · 1.1 mHigh 22:40 · 3.5 m

The spot

Faces
340° NNW
Swell window
W 270° → NE 50°
Exposure
Bay · model cell 3.6 km out
Water
Excellent Quality · Blue Flag

Facing and swell window are derived from the wave model's coastline around the spot, not surveyed. Know better? Tell us.

Water quality

Recent grades: 2024 Excellent, 2023 Excellent, 2022 Excellent. The EPA flags a short-term pollution risk here after heavy rain.

Beach profile (PDF) · beaches.ie

On the ground

Lifeguard: YesToiletsParkingYesAccessible: YesDogs on lead (Dogs are not permitted in the Blue Flag Area of the beach from 12 pm to 7 pm (1st June to 15th September). Dogs are permitted on leads outside the Blue Flag Area at all times.)

As listed by Donegal County Council. Open in Maps.

Sauna after?

itSaunatrailer · The Wee Beach, Marble Hill, Dunfanaghy · 4 km · fixed

Cocoon Sauna · Portnablagh Pier, Dunfanaghy · 6 km · fixed

The Hot Barrel Sauna · Portsalon Pier (also Kerrykeel Pier) · 14 km · mobile

The Swilly Sauna · Main Beach car park, Rathmullan · 23 km · mobile

Downings beach consists of a sandy beach in Sheephaven Bay that is confined by Downings pier to the west and a small headland called Maslack to the South. There is a sea cave in the Maslack headland that is exposed at low tide. The Peninsula comprises an excellent variety of coastal habitats including high rock cliffs, offshore islands, sand dunes, salt marshes, a large intertidal bay and rocky shingle and sandy beaches. These habitats support a wide variety of wildlife and vegetation. Activities at Downings beach include swimming, kayaking, boating, windsurfing, sailing, surfing, power boating, jet skiing (outside the designated area), diving and other land based activities on the beach. The designated bathing area is approx. 0.273km2 and the extent along the water is approximately 687m. There is a very shallow gradient off Downings Beach with the water depth reaching 1m approx. 50m from the water line and gradually getting deeper.

Put Downings in your calendar

Dipper Plus drops the best dip hour here into your phone every day, with waves, sea temperature, tide and a 45-minute nudge. Up to three spots.

Set up Dipper Plus
🌊 Downings dip · Decent · sea 15° · 1.1 mFri, 2 Oct 15:30–16:30 · gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.1 m
🌊 Downings dip · Decent · sea 15° · 1.0 mSat, 3 Oct 10:30–11:30 · gentle breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m
🌊 Downings dip · Decent · sea 15° · 1.0 mSun, 4 Oct 07:30–08:30 · moderate breeze, dry, waves 1.0 m

Nearby spots

Score is Dipper's own blend. It rates comfort, not safety. Forecast: Met Éireann. Waves: Marine Institute Irish Shelf wave model.