
Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, WNW swell with 785 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happenin’ at Back Strands. Gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is a real grind. We’re lookin’ at a long stretch of junk until things finally try to come together around the 8th.
The water temp is sittin’ about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first couple of days, Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd, are a total washout. Tiny little waves with no push – combined energy readings of just 46 and 13 – and the wind is all over the place. You’d be better off stayin’ in bed.
Then Tuesday the 4th is a glassy, pretty morning, but the swell is a pathetic 0.3 ft. It’s like a lake out there. Nothin’ doin’.
Wednesday the 5th sees a jump in size, but it’s a messy one. The wind screams onshore, gustin’ up to 28 mph, and the combined energy jumps to 636 – that’s a lot of raw, ugly power, but it’s all short-period wind swell at 6-8 seconds. The surf is poor, blown out, and lumpy. That much energy with that wind is more of a kite-surfing situation than a paddle-in session. Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th are still onshore and messy, with the energy droppin’ back down. Not worth paddlin’ out.
Now, here’s the one and only window that might get your heart beatin’. Saturday morning, August 8th. The forecast shows a 5 ft swell from the west, with a period of 8 seconds, and a combined energy of 270. That’s moderate energy, but the real kicker is the wind – light, cross-offshore from the SSW. That’ll clean it right up. The report says “expect good surf conditions,” which is the first nice thing we’ve heard all week. The break is fairly consistent and a reef setup, which should handle that west swell alright. Just be aware that crowds are sometimes an issue here, so if you see a few cars, you know the locals are onto it. Sunday the 9th will be glassy again in the morning, but the swell is smaller, and the energy is down. The rest of the forecast into the second week is a slow fade-out back to tiny, weak waves with poor conditions. There’s a gap of nearly a week with no real recommendations after the 9th.
So, the standout is simple: Saturday morning, August 8th, at Back Strands. That’s your one shot. The rest of the 16 days is a barren stretch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue night, min 13°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Wed morning, light winds from the WNW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 9 | NW 9 | W 11 | NW 8 | W 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
43 | 31 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 148 | 636 | 353 | 117 | 24 | 20 | 194 | 225 | 239 | 270 | 190 | 173 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 8:49AM3.03m | 9:04PM3.50m | 9:25AM2.98m | 9:38PM3.38m | 10:04AM2.91m | 10:18PM3.21m | 10:49AM2.80m | 11:06PM3.01m | 11:45AM2.69m | 00:08AM2.80m | 12:58PM2.63m | 1:30AM2.67m | 2:23PM2.69m | 3:01AM2.68m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:38PM0.38m | 3:15AM0.38m | 3:13PM0.48m | 3:50AM0.46m | 3:52PM0.63m | 4:31AM0.58m | 4:39PM0.80m | 5:21AM0.75m | 5:39PM0.97m | 6:27AM0.90m | 7:03PM1.08m | 7:52AM0.97m | 8:42PM1.01m | ||||||||
5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:32 | — | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | |
mm | — | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 11 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 10 | — | — | W 10 | NW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — |
43 | 31 | 20 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 16 | — | — | 8 | 13 | 7 | 194 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | N 9 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | — | NW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | W 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 5 | — | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 148 | 636 | 353 | 117 | 24 | 20 | — | 225 | 239 | 270 | 190 | 173 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 32 | 36 | 33 | 33 | 80 | 104 | 319 | 127 | 442 | 527 | 450 | 36 | 27 | 251 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











