
Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, W swell with 489 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with W 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 1.6m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Back Strands over the next couple of weeks.
Straight up, this is a tough run. There’s a big gap of nothing at the start, and then it’s a real battle to find a window where the conditions line up. If you’re desperate for a paddle, there are a couple of moments, but we’re not talking about a classic day.
The first real chance you get is Saturday morning, the 8th of August. We see a 4ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 9 seconds. The wind is a clean, cross-off breeze from the south, which will keep the surface looking tidy. The combined energy is moderate at 295. It’s not gonna be firing, but it’s surfable – a real “marginal” call. The wind holds for the afternoon too, but it’s the same story.
Then Sunday morning, the 9th, sees a similar 4ft WNW swell, still with a 9-second period, and a light cross-off wind from the SSW. The energy drops a bit to 207. It’s still clean, but it’s ordinary. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so don’t expect a shock.
Monday the 10th is the pick of the bunch. The swell drops to 3ft from the west, but the wind goes glassy offshore for the afternoon. A 3 mph breeze from the north, with a period of 8 seconds. That’s as clean as it gets. The energy is weak at 88, but if you’ve got a log, that afternoon session will be a fun, uncrowded knee-knocker. The morning is an offshore wind too, so you could get a wave.
After that, it’s pretty grim. The surf drops right off through the middle of the week, with tiny, weak swells and poor conditions. The energy levels are in the teens and twenties – weak. There’s a brief spike on the 13th with a 2ft west swell and a 9-second period, but the wind is cross-off, so it’s just clean and tiny.
The 19th of August brings a bigger 5ft swell from the west with a 10-second period and moderate energy at 452, but it’s a weekend day and the wind is a messy cross-shore. That’s a chop-fest, not a surf day. The run from the 15th to the 21st is just a write-off with strong onshore winds and choppy, poor surf.
So, the only real standout here is that Monday afternoon (10th). It’s not a big swell, but the glassy conditions and offshore wind make it a beautiful little session for the right board. That’s your window. The rest is a lot of waiting and hoping the forecasts change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | W 5 | W 5 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
25 | 20 | 24 | 144 | 423 | 405 | 295 | 295 | 203 | 207 | 202 | 140 | 98 | 72 | 36 | 15 | 8 | 20 | 32 | 20 | 58 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | glassy | off | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 11:45AM2.69m | 00:08AM2.80m | 12:58PM2.63m | 1:30AM2.67m | 2:23PM2.69m | 3:01AM2.68m | 3:43PM2.92m | 4:18AM2.84m | 4:48PM3.24m | 5:19AM3.04m | 5:41PM3.57m | 6:10AM3.21m | 6:28PM3.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:21AM0.75m | 5:39PM0.97m | 6:27AM0.90m | 7:03PM1.08m | 7:52AM0.97m | 8:42PM1.01m | 9:16AM0.88m | 10:04PM0.77m | 10:22AM0.67m | 11:06PM0.47m | 11:16AM0.43m | 11:58PM0.19m | 12:02PM0.22m | 00:44AM-0.01m | |||||||
5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:13 | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 11 |
8 | 7 | 7 | 144 | 423 | 405 | 295 | 295 | 203 | 207 | 202 | 140 | 98 | 72 | 36 | 15 | 8 | 20 | 32 | 20 | 58 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | W 6 | NW 7 | — | — |
— | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 7 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 4 | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSE 3 | — | — |
25 | 20 | 24 | 6 | — | — | 8 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 83 | 268 | 48 | 53 | 145 | 10 | 27 | 53 | 22 | 0 | 112 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 36 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 7 |
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.











