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M2 wave buoy monthly means for 2018

Monthly means from the M2 wave buoy for 2018, including available wave height, period, direction, wind and sea temperature data.

Last observation shown

Data available:  to 

Latest

Period Summary

Programmatically generated summary. Hog Says

4,746 wave-buoy observations covered 206 of 365 days (56%). Typical wave height was 3.1 ft (10th–90th percentile 1–7.2 ft), while mean peak wave period was 6.4 seconds (10th–90th percentile 3.8–9.5 seconds). Typical wind was 15.9 mph (10th–90th percentile 7–27.5 mph) and mean water temperature was 13.2°C (10th–90th percentile 12.9–13.6°C). 71 of 22,835 checked values (0.3%) were excluded by quality control.

Generated only from the observations and comparisons shown on this page.

Typical Significant Wave Height

3.1ft
Mean: 3.7 ft
P10–P90: 1 — 7.2 ft
Recorded extremes

0.5 — 18.5 ft

Available for 2,579 of 4,746 hourly samples

Mean Observed Wave Period

6.4secs
P10–P90: 3.8 — 9.5secs
Recorded extremes

2 — 25secs

Available for 4,678 of 4,746 hourly samples

Typical Observed Wind

Variable, 15.9mph
Mean: 16.9 mph
P10–P90: 7 — 27.5 mph
Recorded extremes

0 — 47.2 mph

Circular concentration: 27%

Available for 4,610 of 4,746 hourly samples

Mean Water Temperature

13.2°C
P10–P90: 12.9 — 13.6°C
Recorded extremes

10.8 — 13.9°C

Available for 1,416 of 4,746 hourly samples

Chart showing grouped wave observations for M2. Use the table on this page for a text version of the same measurements. To open daily observations, use a linked month name in the table.

About M2 wave buoy

M2 (WMO 62091) is part of the Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network, managed by the Marine Institute in collaboration with Met Éireann. Moored in the Irish Sea east of Ireland, it provides open-water context for the busy, relatively enclosed waters between the Irish and British coasts.

Its current data source reports wave height, wave period, wave direction, directional spread, wind conditions and sea temperature.

Metrics are rows; months run left to right.
M2 wave buoy monthly means 2018Last observation shown
Metric
Mean significant wave height (ft)765432--24--
Mean maximum wave height (ft)1097541-035--
Mean peak period (s)667655--4676
Mean zero-crossing period (s)555444--44--
Mean peak wave directionNNWconcentration 65%ENEconcentration 95%SEconcentration 41%SSEconcentration 40%Variableconcentration 30%NNEconcentration 45%-Variableconcentration 22%NWconcentration 50%Variableconcentration 23%SSEconcentration 56%Sconcentration 75%
Mean wave direction-ENEconcentration 94%SEconcentration 47%SSEconcentration 45%SEconcentration 35%NNEconcentration 36%-Variableconcentration 21%NWconcentration 45%Variableconcentration 18%--
Mean directional spread (°)24.323.925.426.027.318.6-70.733.627.625.126.0
Mean wind direction-ENEconcentration 89%Variableconcentration 21%SSEconcentration 31%Variableconcentration 22%Variableconcentration 20%-WSWconcentration 82%WNWconcentration 54%Variableconcentration 26%SSEconcentration 52%SWconcentration 62%
Mean wind speed (mph)24231815138--13162120
Mean water temperature(°C)10.9-------13.713.412.9-

Swipe sideways to see more months.

Wave metric colour key

Colours move through the scale as each number increases. They do not by themselves mean that conditions are good, safe or suitable for you.

Wave & swell height0–40+ ft
Wave & swell period0–22+ s
Wind speed0–75 mph

The displayed numbers remain the source of truth; colour is an additional visual cue.

What does buoy wave power mean?

kW/m means kilowatts of wave power per metre of wave crest. It describes the rate at which the observed sea state carries energy past the buoy.

Unlike the shore-directed forecast value, buoy wave power is the total power at the observation point. It is not projected towards a particular beach and does not predict breaking wave height.

In deep water, wave power can be calculated with:

P is approximately 0.49 times significant wave height squared times wave energy period.

P is power in kW/m, Hs is significant wave height in metres, and Te is wave energy period in seconds.

  • Provider-reported power is used when available.
  • Otherwise, a value is calculated only when both significant height and a genuine energy period are available. The ≈ symbol marks calculated values.
  • A dash is shown instead of substituting peak, Tm02, zero-crossing or other period measurements.
  • Daily and monthly figures use the mean of hourly-normalized observation power values; they are not calculated from mean height and period.

Wave direction, spectrum, water depth and local bathymetry still matter. Wave power is best read alongside height, period and direction rather than as a standalone surf-quality score.

The observation data displayed on this page is from the Met Éireann Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network.

Learn how SurfHog combines, checks and summarizes observations in the data and methodology notes.

› Wave Buoy List