Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, WNW swell with 4,631 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 19th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
IMPERIAL
Alright, Rusty here, peeking at what Back Strands has in store.
Let’s be real – it’s been a slow, ugly start. There’s a big stretch of poor surf before anything decent shows up.
The main event, the one to aim for, is Sunday the 21st of September in the afternoon. We’ll see head-high surf at about 5ft out of the WNW with a 12-second period (633 energy). That’s a proper groundswell. The kicker is a light offshore breeze from the SE, so the faces will be clean and lined up. This break works best with a west swell, so that’s a perfect match. Just a heads up, it can get a bit of a crowd here sometimes.
The Monday morning of the 22nd is also looking tidy. It drops a bit to about 5ft with the same long period, and a cross-off wind from the SSW (469 energy). Still very rideable.
The water temp at the start is a mild 61°, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year.
Everything after that point in the second week tails off hard into small, weak dribble below 3ft. Total energy drops right off a cliff.
So here’s the takeaway: suffer through the wind and the chop for the first week, then nail that window on the 21st. That’s the winner.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the WNW by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 11 | WSW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 12 | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | W 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 995 | 559 | 260 | 137 | 71 | 28 | 151 | 432 | 121 | 319 | 455 | 672 | 450 | 445 | 813 | 1775 | 3680 | 2187 | 1344 | 1521 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 7:25PM3.90m | 7:47AM3.46m | 8:00PM3.74m | 8:20AM3.39m | 8:34PM3.49m | 8:53AM3.26m | 9:08PM3.19m | 9:26AM3.07m | 9:44PM2.87m | 10:03AM2.85m | 10:23PM2.55m | 10:49AM2.61m | 11:18PM2.28m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:34AM-0.07m | 1:39PM0.07m | 2:06AM0.07m | 2:15PM0.19m | 2:37AM0.27m | 2:50PM0.39m | 3:07AM0.52m | 3:27PM0.65m | 3:40AM0.79m | 4:07PM0.93m | 4:17AM1.07m | 5:00PM1.22m | ||||||||
 |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — |
 | 7:59 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 11 | NW 12 | W 10 | NW 11 | W 12 | WNW 11 | W 10 | — | — | — | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | — |
| kJ | 995 | 559 | 260 | 137 | 71 | 23 | 151 | 6 | 121 | 5 | 184 | 672 | 450 | — | — | — | 3680 | 2187 | 1344 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 10 | W 10 | WSW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 13 | — | NW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 19 | 49 | 27 | 28 | 7 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | S 3 | WSW 10 | WNW 6 | W 10 | WNW 9 | — | — | W 9 | W 10 | W 12 | — | — | SSW 4 | W 11 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 5 | 432 | 108 | 319 | 455 | — | — | 445 | 813 | 1775 | — | — | 17 | 1521 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 27 | 265 | 319 | 727 | 437 | 243 | 53 | 114 | 438 | 458 | 558 | 265 | 716 | 1015 |
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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