Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, WNW swell with 125 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s period with WNW 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 Monday (Aug 10) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s 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 0.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya. Let’s be straight up about it – this stretch is lookin’ real quiet for Back Strands. We’ve got a long gap of small, onshore junk before anything even gets close to surfable. The water temp is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year at 61°.
So, from now until the morning of Thursday, August 13th, it’s mostly flat or blown-out. A few early mornings on the 11th and 12th have clean conditions but the swell is tiny – 1.0ft to 1ft. That’s not worth paddling for.
Things finally get a pulse on Thursday morning, August 13th. Swell bumps to 2ft from the West with a 10-second period. The combined energy hits 102 (moderate), and it’s clean with a cross-off breeze. It’s surfable, but ordinary. Nothing to get excited about.
Then it’s back to small and onshore junk until we hit Monday, August 17th. Monday morning has a bit of clean 2ft West swell, but again, it's marginal.
The real energy shows up later in the week. By Tuesday, August 18th, the swell picks up to 4ft from the WNW, but it’s choppy with cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is 155 (moderate). It's not clean.
The standout is Thursday, August 20th. We’ve got 6ft of WNW groundswell, with a 10-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at 637 to 702 (strong to very strong). But here’s the kicker – it’s cross-onshore and choppy both morning and afternoon. For a reef break like Back Strands, that wind and size will make it a messy, washing-machine vibe. At that size, it’s pushing into expert territory, but the wind is going to ruin the shape. Honestly, with that setup and poor quality, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Friday, August 21st, the swell drops to 5ft in the morning with a clean cross-off breeze, and then 4ft in the afternoon with clean offshore wind from the SE. The combined energy is 339 in the morning and 197 in the afternoon (moderate). That Friday afternoon is the best on offer – clean, offshore, with a decent 4ft WNW swell. It’s not world-class, but after this long dry spell, it’s the only window where it might actually be fun.
After that, it fades back to tiny junk through the end of the period.
So the one true standout is Friday afternoon, August 21st at Back Strands. 4ft from the WNW, clean offshore wind. Keep your expectations in check, but that’s your best chance.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | NW 5 | W 8 | NW 7 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 206 | 125 | 67 | 45 | 30 | 9 | 12 | 38 | 33 | 31 | 119 | 102 | 94 | 81 | 55 | 21 | 27 | 40 | 44 | 23 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 4:18AM2.84m | 4:48PM3.24m | 5:19AM3.04m | 5:41PM3.57m | 6:10AM3.21m | 6:28PM3.84m | 6:55AM3.32m | 7:11PM4.00m | 7:36AM3.37m | 7:52PM4.02m | 8:16AM3.35m | 8:31PM3.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:04PM0.77m | 10:22AM0.67m | 11:06PM0.47m | 11:16AM0.43m | 11:58PM0.19m | 12:02PM0.22m | 00:44AM-0.01m | 12:45PM0.08m | 1:26AM-0.10m | 1:25PM0.02m | 2:05AM-0.08m | 2:04PM0.06m | 2:43AM0.05m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:13 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | — | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NW 7 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 206 | 125 | 67 | 45 | 30 | 8 | 8 | 38 | 33 | 31 | 119 | 102 | 94 | — | 55 | 21 | 12 | 40 | 44 | 23 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 11 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | W 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 15 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SE 2 | SSE 2 | S 2 | SSE 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | W 9 | — | WNW 3 | NW 5 | NW 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 81 | — | 4 | 27 | 17 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 727 | 53 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 36 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 36 | 313 | 313 | 278 | 178 | 422 | 178 |
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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