Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 22 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, WNW swell with 562 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s 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 1.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) 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 0.7m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Back Strands over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, I’m looking at this and feeling a bit flat. The whole 16-day window is a tough one for Back Strands if you’re hoping to get a proper surf in. We’ve got a long, quiet run ahead, with nothing really firing until we get into the second week.
The first real chance to get wet without it being a total washout comes on the morning of Monday the 27th of July. We’ll see a 4ft swell rolling in from the WNW, and the wind is swinging cross-off from the SSW, which will clean things up nicely. The combined energy is moderate (280), so there’s a bit of push, but the period is around 10 seconds, so it’s a workable groundswell for a reef break like this. Still, the conditions are described as marginal, so don’t expect perfection.
The next morning, Tuesday the 28th of July, looks similar. Again, 4ft from the W with a clean, cross-off wind from the S. Another marginal day, but it’s surfable (283 combined energy). It’s the best we’ve got.
After that, the swell drops off quickly. From the 30th of July right through to the end of the forecast on the 6th of August, it’s a real struggle. We’re talking tiny waves, mostly under 2ft, with a lot of onshore or cross-onshore wind. There’s a brief moment on the morning of Wednesday the 5th of August where we get a 2ft, 11-second groundswell from the W with clean cross-off wind, but the energy is weak (85) and it’s just “surfable but very ordinary.” Not a standout.
Bottom line: There’s no standout in this period. The best windows are those Monday and Tuesday mornings at the end of July, but even then it’s marginal. For the rest of it, you’re looking at a long stretch of small, messy, or blown-out conditions. If you’re desperate for a paddle, those few mornings are your only shot, but don’t expect much.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Wed night, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | NW 6 | W 8 | WNW 11 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 24 | 165 | 147 | 219 | 466 | 561 | 500 | 454 | 502 | 391 | 276 | 254 | 269 | 281 | 367 | 264 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 1:06AM2.57m | 1:52PM2.49m | 2:18AM2.43m | 3:06PM2.53m | 3:33AM2.43m | 4:11PM2.65m | 4:34AM2.52m | 5:02PM2.83m | 5:21AM2.66m | 5:44PM3.03m | 6:01AM2.79m | 6:22PM3.22m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:44PM1.16m | 7:27AM1.11m | 8:06PM1.25m | 8:38AM1.15m | 9:25PM1.21m | 9:43AM1.09m | 10:27PM1.08m | 10:36AM0.96m | 11:14PM0.92m | 11:19AM0.79m | 11:55PM0.76m | 11:56AM0.63m | 00:32AM0.61m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — |
 | — | 9:51 | — | — | 9:50 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:46 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:42 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | NW 6 | W 8 | NW 6 | WNW 11 | W 9 | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — | — | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
| kJ | 14 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 165 | — | — | — | 561 | — | — | — | 391 | 276 | 254 | 269 | 281 | 367 | 264 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 9 | — | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 10 | — | N 9 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 6 | — | 12 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | — | 2 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | — | NW 6 | — | NW 6 | — | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — | SW 3 | — | — | SSW 4 | — | — |
| kJ | 16 | — | 9 | — | 9 | — | 147 | 219 | 466 | — | 500 | 454 | 502 | — | 2 | — | — | 12 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 104 | 243 | 1197 | 51 | 292 | 1145 | 268 | 265 | 127 | 204 | 427 | 745 | 282 | 12 | 114 | 0 | 135 | 145 | 53 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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