Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, W swell with 653 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Strands this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 1.8m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get this out there. I’ve been staring at the charts for the next couple of weeks, and honestly, it’s a bit of a rough one for anyone wanting to get a proper wave. For the first stretch, we’ve got next to nothing on offer at Back Strands. The wind is all over the place, mostly onshore or cross, and the swell is tiny. It’s going to be a case of watching the horizon and hoping for a miracle, not much else. We’re looking at a pretty boring run from Saturday the 15th right through until at least the 22nd. The odd bump might show up, but it’ll be messy and weak, not what you want to drag a board out for.
The first real sign of life, and even then it’s not amazing, shows up on Tuesday the 19th. The swell pushes up to 5ft to 6ft, but it’s short-period windswell with 22 mph winds blowing cross and cross-on. The energy is starting to build, with readings around 399 to 476, but that wind will chop it all to pieces. It’s not worth paddling out for, really. The next day, Wednesday the 20th, has a bit more size, 5ft, but again, it’s got a cross-on wind and it’s not clean. It looks like more of a mess than anything.
After that, it just fades away again. There’s a long flat spell from the 21st right through to the end of the window, with the swell dropping to less than 2ft. The energy is weak, often below 20, which tells you everything you need to know. We don’t get a single day in this whole two-week stretch that fits the bill for a proper surf. It’s a total write-off for the paddle surfer. The only saving grace is that by the 27th, we get some glassy conditions, but with a 0.7ft swell, that’s just for a swim, not a surf.
If you're desperate, you might look at the 30th, where there’s a pulse to 3ft, but again, it’s onshore wind. This whole thing is a bit of a dead loss. If you’ve got a kite, maybe bring that, because the onshore winds and chop are more interesting for that than trying to surf. Otherwise, save your energy and wait for the next proper swell. This is one of those times when being a surfer is about patience, not action.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 12°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed morning, light winds from the WNW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 83 | 66 | 54 | 32 | 32 | 112 | 86 | 58 | 177 | 164 | 208 | 318 | 399 | 476 | 584 | 370 | 271 | 137 | 71 | 41 | 26 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:31PM3.91m | 8:54AM3.26m | 9:09PM3.67m | 9:31AM3.13m | 9:47PM3.35m | 10:09AM2.95m | 10:27PM3.01m | 10:51AM2.76m | 11:11PM2.67m | 11:41AM2.56m | 00:08AM2.39m | 12:52PM2.41m | 1:34AM2.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:04PM0.06m | 2:43AM0.05m | 2:43PM0.20m | 3:18AM0.25m | 3:22PM0.41m | 3:54AM0.51m | 4:02PM0.67m | 4:31AM0.78m | 4:48PM0.95m | 5:14AM1.05m | 5:46PM1.21m | 6:15AM1.27m | 7:18PM1.37m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | | | | |  |  | |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:01 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 4 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 10 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | 83 | 66 | 54 | 32 | 32 | 18 | 86 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 584 | 370 | 271 | 137 | 71 | 41 | 26 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 9 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | W 8 | — | — | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 112 | — | — | 177 | 164 | 208 | 318 | 399 | 476 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 704 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 22 | 80 | 268 | 517 | 512 | 145 | 424 | 145 | 210 | 189 | 721 | 211 | 197 | 270 | 158 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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