Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 10s period, WNW swell with 917 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s 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 (Jul 28) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 2.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) 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 0.4m 2s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the outlook for Back Strands over the next 16 days is a tough one to swallow. The water is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only thing that’s working in our favour. We’ve got a solid run of poor surf conditions and not much to get excited about.
The first few days are a write-off. Saturday the 25th is a mess with a fresh cross-onshore wind and a lumpy 7ft swell from the WNW. The combined energy is moderate at 641, but it’s just ugly. Sunday and Monday aren’t any better. We do get a brief window on Monday morning, the 27th, with a clean 5ft swell from the west and a gentle cross-off breeze, but it’s only rated as marginal. It’s a tease, nothing more.
We then hit a bit of a flat spell. From Tuesday the 28th all the way through to Friday the 1st of August, the swell drops right off, with heights under 3ft and energy levels dropping into the double digits. There’s a moment on Friday afternoon, the 31st of July, where it goes glassy with a 4ft swell from the WNW, but it’s still very ordinary. It’s a long, quiet stretch.
The second week doesn’t offer much hope either. The swell tries to pick up a little on Saturday the 8th of August, with a 5ft west-northwest swell pushing through, but the wind is onshore and the conditions are unknown. The energy jumps to 404, which is moderate, but it’s not going to be clean. It’s a frustrating outlook, and if you’re a beginner, the few bigger days are over 5ft and not well organised.
Honestly, for this stretch, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. We’ve got wind and lumpy water, but not much else. It’s a blank run, and it’s one of those times where you just have to wait for the forecasts to change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon night, min 13°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sat night, light winds from the SSW by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 641 | 689 | 819 | 862 | 917 | 616 | 440 | 361 | 240 | 158 | 116 | 86 | 109 | 109 | 60 | 70 | 240 | 432 | 248 | 202 | 154 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:11PM2.65m | 4:34AM2.52m | 5:02PM2.83m | 5:21AM2.66m | 5:44PM3.03m | 6:01AM2.79m | 6:22PM3.22m | 6:36AM2.90m | 6:56PM3.38m | 7:10AM2.98m | 7:29PM3.51m | 7:43AM3.03m | 8:00PM3.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:27PM1.08m | 10:36AM0.96m | 11:14PM0.92m | 11:19AM0.79m | 11:55PM0.76m | 11:56AM0.63m | 00:32AM0.61m | 12:30PM0.48m | 1:06AM0.49m | 1:03PM0.38m | 1:38AM0.40m | 1:34PM0.32m | 2:10AM0.35m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:46 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:42 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:37 |
mm | 3 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 10 | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | NW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | N 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | — | 689 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 240 | 158 | 116 | 86 | 109 | 109 | 60 | 2 | 240 | 432 | 248 | 202 | 154 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | — | N 9 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 641 | — | 819 | 862 | 917 | 616 | 440 | 361 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 265 | 265 | 210 | 422 | 422 | 265 | 10 | 27 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 453 | 21 | 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.
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