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Ireland

Howth

Sun, sea & sand

Howth at a glance

Best time
Apr – Jun, Aug – Sep
Warmest month
Jul · 18°
Warmest sea
Aug · 15.3°
Sunshine a year
1,410 h
Rain a year
873 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+0 / UTC+1
Elevation
171 m

Climate in Howth

Howth has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. July is the warmest month with average highs of 18 °C, while January is the coolest at 7 °C. With around 1,410 hours of sunshine a year, Howth is rather dull; May is the sunniest month with 6.1 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

8

Holiday weather in October

Poor

Best time to visit: April – June, August – September

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 8°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 12°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 12°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 11°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 10°

07:4918:31

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 07:27–08:37 · evening 17:43–18:52
Blue hour
Morning 07:14–07:27 · evening 18:52–19:06

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.

What is the weather like in Howth in October?

In October, Howth is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 13.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 86 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 42 min07:49 – 18:31
UV index
2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
24 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
74 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Snow days
0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
Time zone
UTC+1Europe/Dublin

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
  • Seaweight 25 %0 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %7 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 20 %34 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.

What to pack in October

  • A jumper for the evenings
  • Rain jacket or umbrella
Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Howth

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

Sea in October13.6°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 13.1 – 14.1 °C

Swimming season: Never above 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 13.6°8 in 10 years 13.1° – 14.1°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Howth ranges from 8.1 °C in March to 15.3 °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 October to February 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 14.8 and 16.0 °C.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan9.2°8.1°9.9°cold
FebruaryFeb8.2°7.4°8.9°cold
MarchMar8.1°7.1°8.9°cold
AprilApr9.0°8.1°9.9°cold
MayMay10.9°10.2°11.9°cold
JuneJun13.3°12.4°14.4°cold
JulyJul14.8°13.9°16.0°cold
AugustAug15.3°14.8°16.0°cold
SeptemberSep14.7°14.0°15.4°cold
OctoberOct13.6°13.1°14.1°cold
NovemberNov12.3°11.7°12.8°cold
DecemberDec10.6°9.9°11.3°cold
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Howth

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

Per year
1,410 hours
Sunniest month
May · 6.1 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 1.6 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.4 hDaylight 10.7 hShare of daylight 32 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.4 of 10.7 hours of daylight in Howth, 32 % of the day.

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.

Sun protection

UV index in Howth

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October
2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.

The sun is strongest in June (UV 7).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
about 80 min
Fair skin
about 100 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 it, 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.

Rain

Rain in Howth: 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
873 mm on 159 days
Wettest month
Oct · 86 mm
Driest month
Feb · 58 mm
OctoberRainy days 13Rainfall 86 mm

In October, Howth has about 13 rainy days with 86 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Howth

How breezy and how cloudy Howth 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
22 km/h · moderate breeze
Windiest month
Feb · 26 km/h
Calmest month
Jul · 19 km/h
OctoberWind 24 km/hBeaufort 4
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Howth typically peaks at 24 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate 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: Aug – Jun.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average
73 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Apr · 69 %
Cloudiest month
Jul · 76 %
OctoberCloud cover 74 %Sunshine 3.4 h

In October, cloud covers on average 74 % of the sky over Howth: mostly cloudy, with about 3.4 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.

Climate through the year

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

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Howth

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 8°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in January (3°), the warmest in July (12°). 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 8°Sea 14°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan77°3°9.2°1.8 h1367
FebruaryFeb87°3°8.2°2.7 h1258
MarchMar109°3°8.1°3.5 h1260
AprilApr1411°5°9.0°5.2 h1465
MayMay1614°8°10.9°6.1 h1469
JuneJun1517°10°13.3°5.7 h1475
JulyJul1018°12°14.8°4.9 h1579
AugustAug1218°12°15.3°5.0 h1480
SeptemberSep1216°10°14.7°4.2 h1273
OctoberOct813°8°13.6°3.4 h1386
NovemberNov79°5°12.3°2.3 h1385
DecemberDec77°3°10.6°1.6 h1376

Climate averages 1996–2025, 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

53.39° N, 6.07° W · 171 m · Europe/Dublin

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Howth

The best time to visit Howth is from April to June and from August to September. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 15.3 °C. The wettest month is October with 86 mm of precipitation.

Howth through the seasons

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

Howth in spring

Mar – May

13

Poor

  • 9–14 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 5 h of sun a day
  • 40 rainy days in all

Howth in summer

Jun – Aug

12

Poor

  • 17–18 °C by day
  • Sea 15 °C
  • 5 h of sun a day
  • 43 rainy days in all

Howth in autumn

Sep – Nov

9

Poor

  • 9–16 °C by day
  • Sea 14 °C
  • 3 h of sun a day
  • 39 rainy days in all

Howth in winter

Dec – Feb

7

Poor

  • 7 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 2 h of sun a day
  • 38 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Howth for you.

Swimming in the sea
Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: April – June

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

Compare two months in Howth

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

vs.

May has the better holiday weather in Howth: score 16 against 8. In May, days are 1 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 3 °C cooler in May. May has one more rainy day. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in May.

October vs. May, Howth
MonthOctoberMay
Weather score816better
Day high13°14°
Night low8°8°
Sea13.6°10.9°
Sunshine3.4 h6.1 hbetter
Rainy days13better14
Rainfall86 mm69 mmbetter

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

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

12 or more rainy days

Howth month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

7January7° · Sea 9° · 2 h

In January, Howth is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 9.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in January
8February7° · Sea 8° · 3 h

In February, Howth is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.2 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 58 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in February
10March9° · Sea 8° · 4 h

In March, Howth is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 8.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in March
14April11° · Sea 9° · 5 h

In April, Howth is cool: daytime highs average 11 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 9.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in April
16May14° · Sea 11° · 6 h

In May, Howth is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 10.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in May
15June17° · Sea 13° · 6 h

In June, Howth is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 13.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 75 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in June
10July18° · Sea 15° · 5 h

In July, Howth is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 79 mm. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in July
12August18° · Sea 15° · 5 h

In August, Howth is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 15.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in August
12September16° · Sea 15° · 4 h

In September, Howth is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 14.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 73 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in September
8October13° · Sea 14° · 3 h

In October, Howth is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 13.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 86 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in October
7November9° · Sea 12° · 2 h

In November, Howth is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 12.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 85 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in November
7December7° · Sea 11° · 2 h

In December, Howth is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sea averages 10.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 76 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Howth.

Howth in December
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Howth compared

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Howth vs. Dún Laoghaire

In October the holiday weather in Howth and Dún Laoghaire is about equally good (score 8 vs. 9). During the day Dún Laoghaire is 1 °C warmer than Howth. The sea is about equally warm.

Howth vs. Dún Laoghaire, in October
in OctoberHowthDún Laoghaire
Holiday score89
Daytime high13°14°
Sea14°14°
Sunshine3 h3 h
Rainy days1313
Best timeApr – Jun, Aug – SepApr – Sep

Through the year

OctoberHowth 13°Dún Laoghaire 14°
HowthDún Laoghaire
Go to Dún Laoghaire
Ranking

Ireland in October: the best places

In October, Howth ranks 9 of 18 destinations in this country.

  1. Dublin14°14°40
  2. 2Kilkenny14°39
  3. 3Cork14°14°39
  4. 4Waterford14°37
  5. 5Killarney14°36
  6. 6Limerick14°34
  7. 7Dún Laoghaire14°14°9
  8. 8Bray14°14°9
  9. 9HowthThis page13°14°8
All destinations: Ireland

Planning a trip to Howth

Weather for your travel dates

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

Howth 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.

Howth has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 16) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 7).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    13

    Poor

    • 10 °C by day
    • Sea 9 °C
    • 4.7 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    16

    PoorBest holidays

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

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    11

    Poor

    • 18 °C by day
    • Sea 15 °C
    • 5.0 h of sun a day
    • 14 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • October half-term

    Oct

    8

    Poor

    • 13 °C by day
    • Sea 14 °C
    • 3.4 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    7

    Poor

    • 7 °C by day
    • Sea 10 °C
    • 1.7 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
Short trip – train or car is often quicker
Distance
440 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.

Frequently asked questions about Howth

When is the best time to visit Howth?

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

How warm is the sea in Howth?

The sea temperature in Howth ranges from 8.1 °C in March to 15.3 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

Can you swim in Howth in October?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 13.6 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

What is the warmest month in Howth?

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 18 °C and nights around 12 °C. January is the coolest month at 7 °C.

When does it rain most in Howth?

The wettest month is October with 86 mm of precipitation. The driest month is February with 58 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Howth get?

Howth gets around 1,410 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 6.1 hours a day; in December there are 1.6 hours a day.

What time zone is Howth in?

Howth uses the time zone Europe/Dublin: UTC+0 in January and UTC+1 in July.

Which school holidays are best for Howth?

Howth has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 16) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 7). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 13, May half-term 16, Summer holidays 11, October half-term 8, Christmas holidays 7.

Near Howth

Other destinations close by.

Places with a climate like Howth

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

  1. 85% similar4GalwayIreland13°14°Best time: Apr – Jun, Sep
  2. 85% similar38SunderlandUnited Kingdom13°12°Best time: Jun – Sep
  3. 84% similar7Perth, ScotlandUnited Kingdom12°12°Best time: Apr – Sep
  4. 83% similar8MiddlesbroughUnited Kingdom13°12°Best time: Apr – Sep