Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, NW swell with 60 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 0.8m 6s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) 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 0.3m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
Righto, grab a coffee, mate – let’s talk Back Strands. This is a tough one, to be honest. The next 16 days are pretty depressing for surf, with the only half-decent window coming way late in the run. We’ve got a long, flat start with nothing worth paddling out for.
It’s not until the morning of Thursday the 23rd of July that the ocean finally starts to show a pulse. The swell nudges up to 5 ft from the WNW (gotta mention that’s the optimum direction for this spot, so it’s got potential), but the wave energy is moderate at 413. That morning, with an onshore wind from the WNW at 6 mph, it’s a bit bumpy, hence the “poor surf conditions” call. The tide could be a factor, but it’s close. Thursday afternoon holds similar size (5 ft, WNW, 374 energy), but the comment says it’s marginal. Still, it’s the best consistent size on offer. This is for experienced surfers only – that 5 ft with onshore wind can be a bit of a washing machine.
Then we get a real tease on Friday the 24th of July morning. The swell drops to 3 ft from the W, but the wind goes glassy – dead still from the NE at 3 mph. The wave energy is moderate at 147. It’s labelled as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” which is as good as it gets in this outlook. That glassy spell is a rare treat and the cleanest the break will be all forecast. The short 8-second period means it’s windswell and less powerful, but a clean 3 ft wave is way more fun than a choppy 5 ft one. I’d be up at sparrow’s for that one if I could.
After that, the arvo on the 24th gets choppy again, and the rest of the run through to the 27th of July fades back into tiny, weak, and onshore junk. The water temperature is 61°F with a 3° anomaly, so it’s a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – not a major thing, but your wetsuit might be a hair thinner if you’ve got one.
So, the standouts: Thursday the 23rd for the biggest, proper swell direction, but it’s only for the brave with the onshore wind. The real gem is Friday the 24th morning – it’s small but glassy, the most surfable moment of the entire window. Don’t get your hopes up for much else. Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | W 21 | WNW 7 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 18 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 23 | 20 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 13 | 26 | 56 | 39 | 51 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 4:53PM3.22m | 5:20AM3.15m | 5:48PM3.50m | 6:16AM3.26m | 6:39PM3.74m | 7:07AM3.31m | 7:27PM3.91m | 7:54AM3.29m | 8:14PM3.97m | 8:40AM3.22m | 8:59PM3.91m | 9:25AM3.10m | 9:43PM3.72m | 10:10AM2.95m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:05PM0.47m | 11:23AM0.36m | 00:01AM0.23m | 12:13PM0.21m | 00:53AM0.06m | 12:59PM0.12m | 1:43AM-0.02m | 1:43PM0.09m | 2:30AM0.00m | 2:27PM0.15m | 3:15AM0.12m | 3:10PM0.28m | 4:00AM0.30m | ||||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 |
 | — | 10:04 | — | — | 10:02 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:59 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:57 | 9:55 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 |
Feels °C | 23 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 12 |
| kJ | 18 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 23 | 20 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 30 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 5 | W 14 | W 13 | W 7 | WNW 9 | W 18 | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | W 14 | W 9 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 15 | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 16 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 21 | — | W 20 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 9 | — | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 2 | — | E 2 | E 2 | ESE 2 | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 26 | 56 | 39 | 51 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 46 | 424 | 292 | 117 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 32 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 276 | 117 | 117 | 313 | 313 | 231 | 422 | 14 | 19 |
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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