Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 26 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.6°C
1.8° 

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 26 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, W swell with 291 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s 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 1.1m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Thu 27th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Thu 27th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Most Powerful 4AM (Mon 31st Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get stuck into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for a proper paddle. We’ve got a real stretch of nothing on the cards to start, and when that groundswell finally shows up, the wind gods are gonna be working against us.

The first solid look at the water is a good week away. The whole stretch from Wednesday the 26th through to Tuesday the 1st of September is a total write-off. There’s a bit of swell knocking around, but it’s tiny and mostly messy. Nothing worth getting wet for.

We finally get a little pulse of life on the back of a strong WSW wind event. Wednesday the 2nd of September sees the swell bump up to 5ft early, but that cross-shore wind is just gonna shred it. Still not a good call.

Then it gets interesting, but not in a good way. By Friday the 4th, we’re looking at a serious jump in size as that big W groundswell fills in. We’re talking 7ft early, pushing up near 10ft by Saturday the 5th. The energy readings are huge, reaching 2907 and 3397, which is proper powerful stuff. But the wind is a disaster. We’ve got onshore and cross-onshore winds gusting to 37 mph, so it’s gonna be blown out and chaotic. This is expert-only territory at Back Strands. If you’ve got a mate with a kite, this might be more their scene than ours.

There is a window on Saturday afternoon, the 5th, where the wind drops to a gentle 9 mph breeze. The swell is still solid at 10ft with a long 13-second period. It’s still a bit lumpy with the cross-onshore and it’s way over most people’s heads, but for the big-wave crew, this is the only moment all week with any kind of shape to it.

After that, it fades fast. By Monday the 7th, it’s dropping back below 3ft and the wind is back on it. The rest of the run to the 10th is just more of the same – small, onshore slop.

So, bottom line: the standouts are few and far between, and they’re dangerous. If you are an expert and you want a piece of that Saturday the 5th afternoon swell, go for it. Otherwise, keep the board in the car and wait for the next system. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 62°, but you’ll be spending more time on the beach than in it most days.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, strong winds from the W by Sun night).

Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
AM
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
1
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)
0.3
W
8
0.3
W
7
0.6
W
10
0.6
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.4
WNW
8
0.3
WNW
8
0.3
WNW
7
0.3
NW
6
0.3
NW
6
0.5
NW
7
0.6
W
4
0.4
WSW
9
0.4
W
9
0.4
W
8
1.1
W
6
0.6
W
10
0.9
W
9
1.4
W
8
1.2
W
8
1.4
WNW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
10
10
67
60
40
22
11
10
6
6
22
13
29
25
22
89
68
125
251
172
232
Wind (km/h)
20
E
15
E
15
E
15
ENE
5
NW
5
WNW
15
NW
10
NW
10
NE
15
NE
15
NW
20
WSW
10
ESE
5
NW
40
W
30
WSW
25
WSW
40
SSW
30
WSW
30
W
25
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
on
on
cross
cross
on
cross
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
5:57PM3.30m
6:13AM2.97m
6:28PM3.50m
6:45AM3.12m
6:58PM3.64m
7:16AM3.23m
7:29PM3.71m
7:48AM3.29m
8:00PM3.70m
8:21AM3.29m
8:33PM3.60m
8:55AM3.23m
9:10PM3.42m
Low Tide
11:35AM0.61m
00:09AM0.50m
12:06PM0.43m
00:40AM0.32m
12:37PM0.29m
1:09AM0.18m
1:08PM0.20m
1:39AM0.11m
1:40PM0.18m
2:10AM0.10m
2:13PM0.22m
2:42AM0.18m
2:49PM0.33m
3:17AM0.33m
light rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:31
6:31
6:33
6:35
6:37
6:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:40
8:37
8:36
8:34
8:30
8:29
8:25
 mm
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
3
1
Temp °C
18
19
18
19
20
17
16
17
14
14
15
15
14
15
14
15
15
15
15
15
14
Feels °C
16
18
17
18
21
18
15
16
13
11
13
13
14
11
9
10
10
10
9
9
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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