Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with 1,662 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s 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 (Aug 09) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period. 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sun 9th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ve gotta be straight with you – this 16-day window for our stretch is pretty rough. We’re looking at a long, dusty run of flat or blown-out conditions right up until next Sunday, August 9th. That’s over a week of not much to get excited about.
The water temp is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
Let’s walk through it. From now through Saturday the 8th, it’s a write-off. Tiny swells, strong cross or onshore winds, and the rare few pulses of size are totally wrecked by howling westerlies. On Wednesday the 5th, we get a spike of 10ft from the WNW, but with a near gale hammering it, the combined energy is 1441 (strong) – that’s a total mess, more for kites than paddles.
Finally, a glimmer. Sunday morning, August 9th, is our one standout. Back Strands picks up a solid 6ft WNW swell with a period of 10 seconds (moderate groundswell). The combined energy is a decent 600 (moderate). With a southerly breeze at just 3 mph going glassy, it’ll be clean. Afternoon holds up too, with 5ft and a light ESE cross-off breeze. The score tells me it’s the best on offer – and it is.
After Sunday, Monday the 10th has a tiny 3ft glassy morning, but it fades fast. After that, it’s back to poor surf through the second week with small, weak swells and persistent cross-onshore winds. Not worth the drive.
So, if you’re hanging for a wave, mark your calendar for Sunday the 9th. That’s your day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Tue morning, near gales from the WNW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Fri night, calm by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 8 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 460 | 1441 | 1312 | 214 | 45 | 26 | 30 | 132 | 275 | 348 | 567 | 252 | 229 | 600 | 491 | 232 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 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 | 3:43PM2.92m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:16AM0.88m | 10:04PM0.77m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  | |  | |  | | |  | | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:19 |
mm | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 10 | 1 |
Temp °C | 15 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NNW 9 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | W 10 | W 6 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 8 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 45 | 7 | 30 | 132 | 275 | 348 | — | — | — | — | — | 232 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | W 9 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 6 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 2 | ENE 2 | — | — | — | WNW 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 7 | — | WNW 6 | — | SSW 3 | — | SSW 4 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 460 | 1441 | 1312 | 214 | — | 26 | — | 4 | — | 8 | 567 | 252 | 229 | 600 | 491 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 48 | 36 | 36 | 80 | 104 | 189 | 502 | 442 | 51 | 127 | 22 | 27 | 135 | 14 | 53 | 267 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Back Strands surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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