AI-generatedBuncrana at a glance
- Best time
- Jun
- Warmest month
- Jul · 19°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 14.8°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,320 h
- Rain a year
- 1,018 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+0 / UTC+1
- Elevation
- 20 m
Climate in Buncrana
Buncrana has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 19 °C, while January is the coolest at 8 °C. With around 1,320 hours of sunshine a year, Buncrana is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 6.5 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Buncrana
The best time to visit Buncrana is in June. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 14.8 °C. The wettest month is December with 101 mm of precipitation.
Buncrana through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Buncrana in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 10–15 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 5.1 h of sun a day
- 45 rainy days in all
Buncrana in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 17–19 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 5.0 h of sun a day
- 49 rainy days in all
Buncrana in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 10–17 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 2.7 h of sun a day
- 50 rainy days in all
Buncrana in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 8–9 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 1.7 h of sun a day
- 51 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
No month
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
All year
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Buncrana for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: June
Where to go in OctoberSea temperature in October
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 7°
- Midday, 13:00: about 13°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 13°
- Evening, 20:00: about 11°
- Night, 23:00: about 9°
07:5718:34
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:35–08:48 · evening 17:43–18:56
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:21–07:35 · evening 18:56–19:10
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Buncrana compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 15° at the start of the month to 12° at the end. The sea cools from 14° to 13°. The days get 2.2 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 15° | 12° |
| Night-time low | 8° | 6° |
| Sea | 14° | 13° |
| Daylight | 11.6 h | 9.5 h |
What is the weather like in Buncrana in October?
In October, Buncrana is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 101 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 29 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Buncrana.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 36 min07:57 – 18:34
- UV index
- 1 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 29 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 78 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
- Time zone
- UTC+1offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %59 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %0 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %7 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Nature escape”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
- Windproof jacket
Compare two months in Buncrana
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Buncrana: score 64 against 32. In June, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C cooler in June. June has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 32 | 64better |
| Daytime high | 13° | 17° |
| Night-time low | 7° | 10° |
| Sea | 13.3° | 12.3° |
| Sunshine | 2.7 h | 5.5 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 17 | 15better |
| Rainfall | 101 mm | 78 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Buncrana month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
1January8° · Sea 9° · 1.4 h
In January, Buncrana is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 9.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 92 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 32 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in January8February9° · Sea 8° · 2.4 h
In February, Buncrana is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sea averages 8.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 83 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 32 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in February20March10° · Sea 8° · 3.4 h
In March, Buncrana is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 69 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 29 km/h. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in March40April13° · Sea 9° · 5.3 h
In April, Buncrana is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 9.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 67 mm. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in April58May15° · Sea 11° · 6.5 h
In May, Buncrana is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 10.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 6.5 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 71 mm. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in May64June17° · Sea 12° · 5.5 h
In June, Buncrana is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 12.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 78 mm. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in June58July19° · Sea 14° · 4.7 h
In July, Buncrana is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 13.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.7 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 84 mm. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in July57August19° · Sea 15° · 4.7 h
In August, Buncrana is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4.7 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 93 mm. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in August57September17° · Sea 15° · 3.8 h
In September, Buncrana is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 14.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 78 mm. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in September32October13° · Sea 13° · 2.7 h
In October, Buncrana is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 101 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 29 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in October12November10° · Sea 12° · 1.5 h
In November, Buncrana is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 11.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.5 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 100 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 30 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in November1December8° · Sea 10° · 1.3 h
In December, Buncrana is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 10.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.3 hours a day. It rains often – on about 18 days, adding up to 101 mm. It is often windy: on a typical day the wind peaks at around 31 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Buncrana.
Buncrana in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate tableWarmest in July: 19°
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Buncrana
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
ColdOctober: nights around 7°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in January (2°), the warmest in August (12°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from October to May, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 1 | 8° | 2° | 9.0° | 1.4 h | 18 | 92 |
| FebruaryFeb | 8 | 9° | 2° | 8.4° | 2.4 h | 16 | 83 |
| MarchMar | 20 | 10° | 3° | 8.4° | 3.4 h | 15 | 69 |
| AprilApr | 40 | 13° | 5° | 9.0° | 5.3 h | 15 | 67 |
| MayMay | 58 | 15° | 7° | 10.5° | 6.5 h | 15 | 71 |
| JuneJun | 64 | 17° | 10° | 12.3° | 5.5 h | 15 | 78 |
| JulyJul | 58 | 19° | 12° | 13.9° | 4.7 h | 17 | 84 |
| AugustAug | 57 | 19° | 12° | 14.8° | 4.7 h | 17 | 93 |
| SeptemberSep | 57 | 17° | 10° | 14.6° | 3.8 h | 15 | 78 |
| OctoberOct | 32 | 13° | 7° | 13.3° | 2.7 h | 17 | 101 |
| NovemberNov | 12 | 10° | 4° | 11.8° | 1.5 h | 18 | 100 |
| DecemberDec | 1 | 8° | 3° | 10.3° | 1.3 h | 18 | 101 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
55.13° N, 7.45° W · 20 m · Europe/Dublin
Sea temperatureUp to 15° in August
Sea temperature in Buncrana
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 12.8 – 13.7 °C
Swimming season: Always below 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Buncrana ranges from 8.4 °C in February to 14.8 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in August, while the air already peaks in July. From November to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 14.3 and 15.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 9.0° | 8.4° | 9.5° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 8.4° | 7.8° | 8.9° | cold |
| MarchMar | 8.4° | 7.5° | 8.9° | cold |
| AprilApr | 9.0° | 8.2° | 9.6° | cold |
| MayMay | 10.5° | 9.8° | 11.4° | cold |
| JuneJun | 12.3° | 11.6° | 13.2° | cold |
| JulyJul | 13.9° | 13.2° | 14.7° | cold |
| AugustAug | 14.8° | 14.3° | 15.6° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 14.6° | 14.0° | 15.2° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 13.3° | 12.8° | 13.7° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 11.8° | 11.1° | 12.5° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 10.3° | 9.7° | 10.7° | cold |
Sunshine1,320 hours a year
Sunshine hours in Buncrana
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 2.7 of 10.6 hours of daylight in Buncrana, 25 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain1,018 mm a year, most in December
Rain in Buncrana: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Buncrana has about 17 rainy days with 101 mm of rain in total.
UV indexUp to 7 in June
UV index in Buncrana
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 1 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 7).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 95 min
- Fair skin
- about 120 min
- Light brown skin
- over 2 h
- Olive skin
- over 2 h
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind & cloudsWindiest in February: 32 km/h
Wind and clouds in Buncrana
How breezy and how cloudy Buncrana is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Buncrana typically peaks at 29 km/h during the day: Beaufort 5, fresh breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it is that strong all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 78 % of the sky over Buncrana: mostly cloudy, with about 2.7 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Planning a trip to Buncrana
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Buncrana in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Buncrana has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 59) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 1).
- 34
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 12 °C by day
- Sea 9 °C
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 59
May half-term
May – Jun
FairBest holidays
- 16 °C by day
- Sea 11 °C
- 6.3 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 57
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 19 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 32
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 13 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 2.7 h of sun a day
- 17 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 1
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 8 °C by day
- Sea 10 °C
- 1.4 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 1 h 15 min
- Distance
- 620 km
- Time zone
- UTC+1
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Good to know: Ireland
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- English, Irish
- Sockets
- Type G · 230 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the left
- Dialling code
- +353
- Emergency number
- 112
UK plugs fit
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Buncrana compared
Put Buncrana side by side with another destination.
Buncrana vs Carndonagh
In October the holiday weather in Buncrana and Carndonagh is about equally good (score 32 vs 31). During the day it is about as warm in Carndonagh as in Buncrana. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Buncrana | Carndonagh |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 32 | 31 |
| Daytime high | 13° | 13° |
| Sea | 13° | 13° |
| Sunshine | 3 h | 3 h |
| Rainy days | 17 | 17 |
| Best time | Jun | Jun – Sep |
Through the year
Best places in the country
Ireland in October: the best places
In October, Buncrana ranks 22 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Skerries14°14°48
- 2Trim14°44
- 3Slane14°43
- 4Carrickmacross14°42
- 5Kells14°42
- 6Balbriggan14°14°42
- 7Dundalk14°13°41
- 8Navan14°41
- 22BuncranaThis page13°13°32
Places nearby4 places within 34 km
Near Buncrana
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climatee.g. Isle of Bute and Ayr
Places with a climate like Buncrana
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Buncrana's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Buncrana
When is the best time to visit Buncrana?
The best time to visit Buncrana is in June. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Buncrana?
The sea temperature in Buncrana ranges from 8.4 °C in February to 14.8 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Buncrana in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 13.3 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Buncrana?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C and nights around 12 °C. January is the coolest month at 8 °C.
When does it rain most in Buncrana?
The wettest month is December with 101 mm of precipitation. The driest month is April with 67 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Buncrana get?
Buncrana gets around 1,320 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 6.5 hours a day; in December there are 1.3 hours a day.
What time zone is Buncrana in?
Buncrana is on UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Buncrana?
A nonstop flight from London to Buncrana takes about 1 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 620 km.
Which school holidays are best for Buncrana?
Buncrana has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 59) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 1). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 34, May half-term 59, summer holidays 57, October half-term 32, Christmas holidays 1.