Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.4°C
1.6° 

Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Back Strands surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, WNW swell with 286 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 12s period with WNW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Strands this week:

The surf forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 12s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 1.1m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Mon 24th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 12s
Best Surf 1PM (Mon 24th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 11s
Most Powerful 1PM (Mon 24th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.

Well, I’ll be honest with you... it’s a pretty grim stretch for the most part. We’ve got a long wait on our hands before anything even remotely rideable shows up. Right now, from Sunday the 23rd of August right through, there’s just nothing doing. The water is sitting at 62°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only good news. We’re looking at a solid week of tiny, weak energy and messy winds. The combined energy is barely a whisper – we’re talking single digit values (10) and low double digits (26) – so don’t even bother waxing the board.

The first real glimmer of hope pops up on Monday the 24th of August. The morning is still a bit ordinary, but the *afternoon* is where it’s at. The wind goes glassy, and we get a 4ft swell from the west, with a nice long period of 11 seconds (groundswell) and moderate energy of 275 (moderate). That’s a clean, lined-up wave for a reef break. This is the standout window of the whole forecast. The swell is small enough for most, and with that glassy surface, it’s going to be pretty. Just be aware crowds are possible at Back Strands.

After that Tuesday the 25th through the rest of the week, it’s back to junk. Strong breeze, messy conditions, and the swell drops right off. The combined energy sinks back under 100 (weak). We’ve got a real dry spell for days.

Then, we get another tease on Thursday the 3rd of September. The afternoon shows some hope with a 3ft west swell, 8-second period, and glassy conditions again. The energy is moderate (114), but the waves are described as "surfable but very ordinary". It’s not the clean runner we had on the 24th, but it’s the best of a bad bunch after that first Monday.

The final week is a write-off. Strong winds, cross-onshore, and swell that’s blown out. On the 7th of September, there’s a 5ft swell from the west, but it’s under a strong onshore breeze and the energy is high (359), but the quality is "poor". For a beach-and-reef setup like Back Strands, that’s more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfers.

So, the only true standout is Monday afternoon, the 24th of August at Back Strands. Get it while it’s glassy. The long-range hope on the 3rd of September is a distant second, and by then, the forecast is less certain.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the E by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Thu night, fresh winds from the WNW by Fri night).

Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
W
9
0.4
WNW
8
0.4
WNW
11
1
WNW
11
1.1
W
11
1.1
W
10
0.8
W
10
0.6
W
9
0.4
W
8
0.3
W
8
0.3
W
7
0.6
W
10
0.6
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.3
WNW
8
0.6
NW
3
1.6
NW
6
1.5
WNW
7
1.3
WNW
8
1.1
WNW
7
0.6
NW
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
6
26
44
254
275
264
116
56
21
10
10
67
61
41
13
9
188
228
186
121
36
Wind (km/h)
10
S
0
NNW
15
SE
10
ESE
5
ESE
15
ESE
20
E
20
ESE
25
E
25
ESE
20
ESE
15
E
20
E
10
E
5
NE
15
NW
25
NW
30
NW
25
NW
20
NNW
10
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
on
on
on
on
on
High Tide
3:50PM2.56m
4:19AM2.41m
4:44PM2.80m
5:04AM2.60m
5:23PM3.06m
5:41AM2.80m
5:57PM3.30m
6:13AM2.97m
6:28PM3.50m
6:45AM3.12m
6:58PM3.64m
7:16AM3.23m
7:29PM3.71m
Low Tide
10:15PM1.16m
10:19AM1.06m
11:01PM0.94m
11:00AM0.83m
11:37PM0.71m
11:35AM0.61m
00:09AM0.50m
12:06PM0.43m
00:40AM0.32m
12:37PM0.29m
1:09AM0.18m
1:08PM0.20m
1:39AM0.11m
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
light rain
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:22
6:24
6:26
6:28
6:31
6:31
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:47
8:45
8:43
8:40
8:37
8:36
8:34
 mm
8
1
1
1
2
1
1
3
2
Temp °C
14
17
17
18
21
18
19
20
16
19
20
17
19
17
16
15
15
15
16
16
14
Feels °C
13
16
15
17
20
15
15
16
13
17
18
15
17
17
16
13
11
10
14
13
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Back Strands Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Back Strands provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Back Strands can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Back Strands surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Back Strands) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Back Strands may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Are you planning a holiday in Sligo? If you are looking for accommodation near Back Strands, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Sligo, consider staying in Sligo which is 19 km (12 miles) away. Other places in and around Sligo where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Killybegs which is 21 km (13 miles) away, Enniskillen, Ballina and Letterkenny.

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