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Carndonagh weather & best time to visit

Nature escape

Carndonagh at a glance

Best time
Jun – Sep
Warmest month
Aug · 17°
Warmest sea
Aug · 14.8°
Sunshine a year
1,310 h
Rain a year
1,018 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+0 / UTC+1
Elevation
32 m

Climate in Carndonagh

Carndonagh has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 17 °C, while January is the coolest at 8 °C. With around 1,310 hours of sunshine a year, Carndonagh is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 6.5 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Carndonagh

The best time to visit Carndonagh is from June to September. 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.

Carndonagh through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Carndonagh in spring

Mar – May

32

Poor

  • 10–13 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 5.1 h of sun a day
  • 45 rainy days in all

Carndonagh in summer

Jun – Aug

57

Fair

  • 15–17 °C by day
  • Sea 14 °C
  • 5.0 h of sun a day
  • 49 rainy days in all

Carndonagh in autumn

Sep – Nov

33

Poor

  • 11–16 °C by day
  • Sea 13 °C
  • 2.7 h of sun a day
  • 50 rainy days in all

Carndonagh in winter

Dec – Feb

5

Poor

  • 8–9 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 1.6 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 Carndonagh for you.

Swimming in the sea
Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: June – August

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

Weather in October

31

Holiday weather in October

Poor

Best time to visit: June – September

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 9°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 13°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 13°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 11°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 10°

07:5718:33

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 07:34–08:47 · evening 17:42–18:55
Blue hour
Morning 07:20–07:34 · evening 18:55–19:09

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 Carndonagh compared with home

Home:

Loading the climate at home …

Early or late October?

In October, daytime highs fall from about 14° 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.

Early or late October?
October1 Oct31 Oct
Daytime high14°12°
Night-time low10°8°
Sea14°13°
Daylight11.6 h9.5 h

What is the weather like in Carndonagh in October?

In October, Carndonagh is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.6 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 Carndonagh.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 36 min07:57 – 18:33
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 %58 %
  • 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 Carndonagh

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs

July has the better holiday weather in Carndonagh: score 58 against 31. In July, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C warmer in July. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in July.

October vs July, Carndonagh
MonthOctoberJuly
Holiday weather score3158better
Daytime high13°17°
Night-time low9°12°
Sea13.3°13.9°
Sunshine2.6 h4.7 hbetter
Rainy days1717
Rainfall101 mm84 mmbetter

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Carndonagh month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

3January8° · Sea 9° · 1.3 h

In January, Carndonagh is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 9.0 °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 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 Carndonagh.

Carndonagh in January
8February9° · Sea 8° · 2.4 h

In February, Carndonagh is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °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 Carndonagh.

Carndonagh in February
17March10° · Sea 8° · 3.4 h

In March, Carndonagh is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °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 Carndonagh.

Carndonagh in March
32April11° · Sea 9° · 5.3 h

In April, Carndonagh is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °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 not an ideal month for a holiday in Carndonagh.

Carndonagh in April
48May13° · Sea 11° · 6.5 h

In May, Carndonagh is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °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 Carndonagh.

Carndonagh in May
55June15° · Sea 12° · 5.5 h

In June, Carndonagh is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °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 so-so month for a holiday in Carndonagh – and yet one of the best months here.

Carndonagh in June
58July17° · Sea 14° · 4.7 h

In July, Carndonagh is mild: daytime highs average 17 °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 Carndonagh – and yet one of the best months here.

Carndonagh in July
57August17° · Sea 15° · 4.7 h

In August, Carndonagh is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °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 Carndonagh – and yet one of the best months here.

Carndonagh in August
53September16° · Sea 15° · 3.8 h

In September, Carndonagh is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °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 Carndonagh – and yet one of the best months here.

Carndonagh in September
31October13° · Sea 13° · 2.6 h

In October, Carndonagh is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2.6 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 Carndonagh.

Carndonagh in October
14November11° · Sea 12° · 1.6 h

In November, Carndonagh is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sea averages 11.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.6 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 Carndonagh.

Carndonagh in November
5December9° · Sea 10° · 1.1 h

In December, Carndonagh is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 10.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 1.1 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 Carndonagh.

Carndonagh in December

Climate in detail

Year & climate table

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Carndonagh

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°

CoolOctober: nights around 9°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in January (4°), the warmest in August (13°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 13°Night 9°Sea 13°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan38°4°9.0°1.3 h1892
FebruaryFeb89°4°8.4°2.4 h1683
MarchMar1710°5°8.4°3.4 h1569
AprilApr3211°6°9.0°5.3 h1567
MayMay4813°8°10.5°6.5 h1571
JuneJun5515°11°12.3°5.5 h1578
JulyJul5817°12°13.9°4.7 h1784
AugustAug5717°13°14.8°4.7 h1793
SeptemberSep5316°11°14.6°3.8 h1578
OctoberOct3113°9°13.3°2.6 h17101
NovemberNov1411°6°11.8°1.6 h18100
DecemberDec59°4°10.3°1.1 h18101

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

55.25° N, 7.27° W · 32 m · Europe/Dublin

Sea temperature
Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Carndonagh

Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.

Sea in October13.3°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 12.8 – 13.7 °C

Swimming season: Always below 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 13.3°8 in 10 years 12.8° – 13.7°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Carndonagh 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.

From October 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.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan9.0°8.4°9.5°cold
FebruaryFeb8.4°7.8°8.9°cold
MarchMar8.4°7.5°8.9°cold
AprilApr9.0°8.2°9.6°cold
MayMay10.5°9.8°11.4°cold
JuneJun12.3°11.6°13.2°cold
JulyJul13.9°13.2°14.7°cold
AugustAug14.8°14.3°15.6°cold
SeptemberSep14.6°14.0°15.2°cold
OctoberOct13.3°12.8°13.7°cold
NovemberNov11.8°11.1°12.5°cold
DecemberDec10.3°9.7°10.7°cold
Sunshine
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Carndonagh

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,310 hours
Sunniest month
May · 6.5 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 1.1 h a day
OctoberSunshine 2.6 hDaylight 10.6 hShare of daylight 25 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 2.6 of 10.6 hours of daylight in Carndonagh, 25 % of the daylight hours.

Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 14 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Rain
Rain

Rain in Carndonagh: 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.

Per year
1,018 mm on 196 days
Wettest month
Dec · 101 mm
Driest month
Apr · 67 mm
OctoberRainy days 17Rainfall 101 mm

In October, Carndonagh has about 17 rainy days with 101 mm of rain in total.

UV index
Sun protection

UV index in Carndonagh

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 & clouds
Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Carndonagh

How breezy and how cloudy Carndonagh 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.

Year average
27 km/h · moderate breeze
Windiest month
Feb · 32 km/h
Calmest month
Jul · 22 km/h
OctoberWind 29 km/hBeaufort 5
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Carndonagh 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.

Year average
77 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
May · 71 %
Cloudiest month
Jul · 80 %
OctoberCloud cover 78 %Sunshine 2.6 h

In October, cloud covers on average 78 % of the sky over Carndonagh: mostly cloudy, with about 2.6 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 Carndonagh

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Carndonagh 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.

Carndonagh has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 57) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 4).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    28

    Poor

    • 11 °C by day
    • Sea 9 °C
    • 4.7 h of sun a day
    • 15 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    49

    Fair

    • 14 °C by day
    • Sea 11 °C
    • 6.3 h of sun a day
    • 15 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    57

    FairBest holidays

    • 17 °C by day
    • Sea 14 °C
    • 4.7 h of sun a day
    • 17 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • October half-term

    Oct

    31

    Poor

    • 13 °C by day
    • Sea 13 °C
    • 2.6 h of sun a day
    • 17 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    4

    Poor

    • 9 °C by day
    • Sea 10 °C
    • 1.2 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

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Carndonagh compared

Put Carndonagh side by side with another destination.

Nearby:
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Carndonagh vs Buncrana

In October the holiday weather in Carndonagh and Buncrana is about equally good (score 31 vs 32). During the day it is about as warm in Buncrana as in Carndonagh. The sea is about equally warm.

Carndonagh vs Buncrana, in October
in OctoberCarndonaghBuncrana
Holiday weather score3132
Daytime high13°13°
Sea13°13°
Sunshine3 h3 h
Rainy days1717
Best timeJun – SepJun

Through the year

OctoberCarndonagh 13°Buncrana 13°
CarndonaghBuncrana
Go to Buncrana
Best places in the country
Ranking

Ireland in October: the best places

In October, Carndonagh ranks 23 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.

  1. Skerries14°14°48
  2. 2Trim14°44
  3. 3Slane14°43
  4. 4Carrickmacross14°42
  5. 5Kells14°42
  6. 6Balbriggan14°14°42
  7. 7Dundalk14°13°41
  8. 8Navan14°41
  9. 23CarndonaghThis page13°13°31
All destinations: Ireland
Places nearby

Near Carndonagh

Other destinations close by.

Places with a similar climate

Places with a climate like Carndonagh

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Carndonagh's – good alternatives.

  1. 87 % similar26PortreeUnited Kingdom13°12°Best time: Jun – Aug
  2. 86 % similar23StornowayUnited Kingdom12°12°Best time: Jun – Aug
  3. 84 % similar29Isle of ButeUnited Kingdom13°13°Best time: Jun – Jul
  4. 82 % similar28AyrUnited Kingdom14°13°Best time: Jun

Frequently asked questions about Carndonagh

When is the best time to visit Carndonagh?

The best time to visit Carndonagh is from June to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

How warm is the sea in Carndonagh?

The sea temperature in Carndonagh 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 Carndonagh 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 Carndonagh?

August is the warmest month, with average highs of 17 °C and nights around 13 °C. January is the coolest month at 8 °C.

When does it rain most in Carndonagh?

The wettest month is December with 101 mm of precipitation. The driest month is April with 67 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Carndonagh get?

Carndonagh gets around 1,310 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 6.5 hours a day; in December there are 1.1 hours a day.

What time zone is Carndonagh in?

Carndonagh is on UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.

How long is the flight from London to Carndonagh?

A nonstop flight from London to Carndonagh takes about 1 h 15 min, for a straight-line distance of about 620 km.

Which school holidays are best for Carndonagh?

Carndonagh has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 57) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 4). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 28, May half-term 49, summer holidays 57, October half-term 31, Christmas holidays 4.