Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
17.6° C
3.0° 

Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Back Strands surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period, WNW swell with 379 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 1.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 1PM (Sat 25th Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on the table for Back Strands over the next two weeks or so.

Honestly, we’re looking at a slow, flat start. The first several days through Thursday July 23rd, it’s all small junk – wave heights barely 1–2ft, short periods, weak energy readings sitting below 50 in the combined scale. Winds are mostly cross-onshore or straight onshore, so it’s choppy and not worth the paddle.

From early Friday July 24th, we see a slight lift. Wave height nosing up to around 3–3ft, period 10 seconds, combined energy hitting 108 – still pretty weak. Winds are cross-onshore from the WSW, so still messy. Saturday the 25th is similar, with 3–4ft waves in the afternoon, 8 second period, and 186 combined energy. Not clean.

Sunday July 26th holds around 4ft, 10 second period, combined energy around 250–289, but the wind is WNW cross-onshore, making it lumpy.

Then on Monday July 27th, we get a real standout window. That afternoon the wind swings to SSW at 9 mph, going cross-offshore, and combined energy jumps to 609. Wave height near 6ft, period 10 seconds from the west. That’s a promising mix for Back Strands: a moderate-groundswell, clean conditions, and the reef handling that west direction well. It’s the best call of the whole outlook. But keep in mind, it’s a week out – worth watching.

Tuesday July 28th is a different beast. Wave heights hit 10ft in the morning, 11 second period, combined energy screaming 2136 – that’s heavy. But the wind rages from the WNW at 28 mph, cross-onshore and messy. That’s for experts only, and with the onshore wind creating chaos, kite-surfing might be more your thing than paddle-surfing that day.

The last few days of July into early August see a slow decline: wave heights around 3–4ft, combined energy dropping to the low hundreds and below, with mostly onshore or light winds. Not much to get excited about.

So, best advice: ride the flattish spell early, then mark Monday afternoon the 27th July as your best chance for clean, solid waves. After that, a big, windy pulse hits, then we fade into small stuff again.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sun
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
NW
7
0.3
W
11
0.4
W
11
0.4
W
11
0.4
W
10
0.4
W
10
0.5
NW
6
0.5
NW
6
0.3
W
9
0.5
NW
6
0.4
NW
6
0.3
NW
6
0.3
NW
6
0.3
NW
6
0.8
WNW
10
0.9
WNW
8
0.9
WNW
8
1
WNW
8
1.3
WNW
10
1.3
WNW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
22
21
35
35
31
30
19
18
15
20
9
6
6
5
107
103
104
123
352
314
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
10
N
15
NNW
20
NNW
10
NNW
20
NNW
20
NNW
20
NNW
15
NNW
20
NW
10
NNW
10
NNW
15
WNW
10
WNW
15
WSW
20
W
15
W
20
W
20
W
20
W
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
10:28PM3.45m
10:57AM2.80m
11:14PM3.14m
11:47AM2.65m
00:05AM2.82m
12:44PM2.54m
1:06AM2.57m
1:52PM2.49m
2:18AM2.43m
3:06PM2.53m
3:33AM2.43m
4:11PM2.65m
Low Tide
4:45AM0.52m
4:43PM0.73m
5:31AM0.76m
5:37PM0.97m
6:24AM0.96m
6:44PM1.16m
7:27AM1.11m
8:06PM1.25m
8:38AM1.15m
9:25PM1.21m
9:43AM1.09m
10:27PM1.08m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:24
5:26
5:26
5:28
5:31
5:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:55
9:53
9:52
9:51
9:50
9:47
9:46
 mm
1
Temp °C
16
13
14
14
13
13
14
12
15
16
14
15
16
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
Feels °C
13
10
11
10
11
10
10
10
13
13
13
14
14
13
11
11
12
11
12
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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