Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, W swell with 6,514 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m 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 4.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s be honest about Back Strands – the next couple of weeks are a proper rollercoaster. There’s some decent swell coming, but the wind is gonna spoil it more often than not. The water is sitting at a very warm 62°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
We start off Saturday, 29 August, but don’t even bother – tiny 0.7ft waves from the west with weak energy (7). Sunday the 30th sees a 1ft to 2ft west swell with a 10-second period, pushing a bit more energy (39 to 64). The morning has offshore ESE winds and clean conditions, so you can get a longboard out, but it’s still small.
Monday 31st the swell jumps to 4ft from the west-northwest, but it’s short period and onshore winds with chop – energy hits 167, but the quality is poor. Tuesday, 1 September, is the first real standout. We get a 5ft west swell with an 8-second period and strong energy (335), and crucially, cross-off winds from the SSW keep it clean. That morning is the best early session; it’s beginner-friendly and glassy.
Then we hit a big gap. The real beast arrives Thursday 3 September – a massive 12ft west swell with a 12-second period and insane energy (3,181 to 3,583). That’s expert-only, and with strong cross-onshore winds at 25 mph, it’s going to be a mess. Friday 4 September is even bigger at 13ft (energy 4,340), but again, strong onshore winds and lumpy. This is kite-surfing territory, not paddle.
After that fades, Monday 7 September offers a 6ft west-northwest swell (9-second period) with light onshore winds and clean morning conditions – energy is a solid 495, making it the best of the later period.
The true standout is Friday 11 September. A 8ft to 8ft west-northwest groundswell with a long 12-second period, pushing very strong energy (1,735). The winds are clean and cross-off from the southeast, so the waves will have proper shape. This is a long-period groundswell, meaning longer gaps between sets – good for rest, but it might break straight on the beach. For reefs or point breaks it would be magic, but here expect powerful, well-formed lines. Keep an eye on crowds.
After that, it drops off quick into smaller stuff by Saturday 13 September.
Bottom line: hit Sunday 30 August morning for small clean waves on a log. For the best combo of size and glass, circle Friday 11 September. Everything else is either too big, too windy, or too small.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Tue afternoon, near gales from the W by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 4 | 33 | 63 | 82 | 283 | 228 | 157 | 280 | 270 | 112 | 125 | 264 | 298 | 1495 | 6514 | 4482 | 2643 | 1570 | 394 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:29PM3.71m | 7:48AM3.29m | 8:00PM3.70m | 8:21AM3.29m | 8:33PM3.60m | 8:55AM3.23m | 9:10PM3.42m | 9:34AM3.12m | 9:51PM3.18m | 10:19AM2.95m | 10:42PM2.89m | 11:18AM2.76m | 11:53PM2.61m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:39AM0.11m | 1:40PM0.18m | 2:10AM0.10m | 2:13PM0.22m | 2:42AM0.18m | 2:49PM0.33m | 3:17AM0.33m | 3:29PM0.50m | 3:57AM0.55m | 4:17PM0.73m | 4:47AM0.81m | 5:22PM0.97m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  |  |  | |  | |  | | | | |  | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — |
 | 8:34 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — |
mm | 1 | — | 3 | 5 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 18 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 11 | — | NW 7 | W 9 | N 6 | — | WNW 8 | W 8 | — | NW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 5 | 4 | 33 | 63 | 10 | — | 33 | 157 | 1 | — | 112 | 125 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 394 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | NW 6 | — | — | — | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 10 |
| kJ | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 6 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 10 | SW 4 | W 8 | W 8 | S 3 | SW 4 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 82 | 283 | 228 | 6 | 280 | 270 | 2 | 24 | 264 | 298 | 1495 | 6514 | 4482 | 2643 | 1570 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 127 | 184 | 7 | 7 | 127 | 512 | 53 | 53 | 266 | 53 | 36 | 792 | 145 | 457 | 1015 | 727 | 567 | 797 | 396 | 10 |
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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