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Surf Forecasts:

Back Strands surfForecast / Sligo / Ireland

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Monday 16 Mar 2026 IST
Forecast 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
8.4° C
 (Which is slightly cooler than normal)

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 Tuesday (Mar 17) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 21s. 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 3.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Mar 16) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Mar 17) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Tue 17th Mar)7ft (2.1m) 12s
Best Surf 9PM (Tue 17th Mar)7ft (2.1m) 12s
Most Powerful 6PM (Mon 16th Mar)11ft (3.5m) 16s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
16 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Mon night, light winds from the NNE by Wed morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 6°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
7
5
1
0
3
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
2
3
2
3
2
1
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
5
WNW
4
WNW
3
WNW
2.5
W
2.3
W
2
W
2.3
W
2.2
W
1.9
WNW
1.6
WNW
1.4
WNW
1.1
WNW
0.8
WNW
0.8
WNW
0.7
WNW
1.6
WNW
1.7
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.4
WNW
1.2
WNW
0.9
WNW
Period(s) (?)181715141312161413131212111014141313121211
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1578788663665270218901160253419491192750549349156139189988960721540380214
Wind
(km/h)
25
SSW
25
SSW
40
S
50
S
25
SSW
10
SSE
15
ENE
10
NNE
15
NE
15
ENE
5
NE
10
ESE
5
SE
5
W
5
NNE
5
ENE
10
WNW
10
SE
15
SSE
25
SSW
45
WNW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		offcross-
off		crosscross-
off		cross-
off		glassoffoffglassglassglasscross-
on		offoffcross-
off		cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
4:28PM
2.86
4:39AM
3.39
5:02PM
3.10
5:12AM
3.63
5:35PM
3.31
5:45AM
3.81
6:09PM
3.47
6:20AM
3.88
6:44PM
3.55
6:56AM
3.84
7:20PM
3.54
7:35AM
3.68
7:58PM
3.44
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:23AM
0.62
10:21PM
0.60
10:55AM
0.33
10:54PM
0.37
11:26AM
0.09
11:27PM
0.18
11:58AM
-0.09
12:02AM
0.05
12:30PM
-0.15
12:38AM
0.01
1:05PM
-0.11
1:16AM
0.05
1:41PM
0.06
1:58AM
0.20
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Sunrise6:47--6:45--6:41--6:39--6:37--6:35--6:31--
Sunset-6:37--6:39--6:42--6:44--6:45--6:47--6:50-
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
Rain (mm)
3-131--------------15
Temp. °C8111112981012121315131011111010109107
Feels °C (?)266244810911141099998855-3
  • 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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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.

View detailed surf forecast for Back Strands at:
surf-forecast.com

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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