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Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surfForecast / Sligo / Ireland
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Saturday 16 May 2026 ISTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
11.6° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)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 (May 18) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Saturday (May 23) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 18th May) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Wed 20th May) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sun 17th May) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon afternoon, min 7°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat night, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Wed morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 16 | Sunday 17 | Monday 18 | Tuesday 19 | Wednesday 20 | Thursday 21 | Friday 22 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
W 8 | W 13 | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | WSW 10 | W 16 | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | |
42 | 573 | 1770 | 1701 | 1379 | 786 | 396 | 250 | 128 | 43 | 83 | 387 | 818 | 563 | 339 | 149 | 112 | 112 | 75 | 77 | 96 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | on | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | |
High Tide | 6:15PM3.56m | 6:32AM3.61m | 6:59PM3.68m | 7:21AM3.54m | 7:45PM3.71m | 8:11AM3.37m | 8:34PM3.67m | 9:04AM3.14m | 9:27PM3.55m | 10:01AM2.87m | 10:25PM3.40m | 11:05AM2.64m | 11:30PM3.25m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:56AM-0.02m | 00:17AM0.11m | 12:38PM-0.03m | 1:04AM0.03m | 1:22PM0.04m | 1:54AM0.05m | 2:06PM0.18m | 2:46AM0.18m | 2:54PM0.38m | 3:44AM0.37m | 3:46PM0.60m | 4:50AM0.58m | 4:46PM0.82m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:32 | — | — | 9:35 | — | — | 9:36 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:40 | — | — | 9:43 |
2 | — | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
4 | 3 | 1 | -1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | — | — | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 13 | W 16 | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 |
 kJ | 42 | — | — | 1701 | 1379 | 786 | 396 | 250 | 128 | 43 | 31 | 387 | 818 | 563 | 339 | 149 | 112 | 112 | 75 | 77 | 96 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | W 14 | WNW 9 | W 10 | — | — | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | N 5 | NW 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 16 | 8 | 117 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | W 13 | W 14 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 2 | SSE 3 | WSW 10 | S 3 | — | — | — | S 2 | SSW 3 | S 2 | SSE 3 | SSW 2 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 573 | 1770 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 83 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 81 | 145 | 127 | 145 | 38 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 151 | 12 | 268 | 27 | 15 | 36 | 0 | 10 | 443 | 10 | 12 | 127 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Back Strands surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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