Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 4,271 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 (Sep 06) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 10AM. 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s be real—this is a tough stretch for Back Strands. You’re gonna need to be patient.
We start off Thursday the 3rd with some knee-high swell, about 3 feet, coming from the west. It’s cross-offshore and clean, but the energy is weak and the period is a short 7 seconds. The water’s around 62°, a touch warmer than usual. The surf quality is just poor. It’s a rough few days ahead. Friday the 4th is a total loss with strong onshore winds and a massive, messy 12-foot swell—that’s for experts only, and even then it’s ugly.
Saturday the 5th morning offers a little hope: 5 feet with clean, cross-off winds, but it’s still only a marginal call. You wait through Sunday and Monday with mostly poor, lumpy conditions.
The first real standout comes on Thursday the 10th. Thursday morning, the wind is offshore from the southeast, light, and the swell is a clean 4 feet from the west with a nice 11-second period. The energy is moderate, and the surf is expected to be good. This is your best bet in the first week. It’s clean, got some push. It’s a reef, and it’s fairly consistent, so expect some company.
After that, it’s another messy few days. The next highlight hits on Saturday the 12th, in the afternoon. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell bumps up to 6 feet from the west-northwest with a long 11-second period. The energy is strong, and the forecast says "very good." This will be a clean, solid wave. That long period might make it a bit tricky for the beach, but it’s the best-looking day of the whole outlook.
Looking further out, on Tuesday the 15th, we see a big, deep groundswell. Both morning and afternoon show 8-foot swells from the west-northwest with a very long 16-second period in the morning and 15 seconds in the afternoon. The energy is massive. This is a proper, powerful swell. But the wind is cross-onshore, so the surface won’t be perfect. It’s only marginal, and at that size, it’s strictly for the experienced crew. The very long period will make it line up better at the reef, but the wind will mess it up.
So, truth is, the next two weeks are mostly a dud. Thursday the 10th morning for a clean, offshore session, and Saturday the 12th afternoon for a glassy, solid wave are your two windows. The big swell on the 15th is just for the hardcore.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Thu night, light winds from the SSW by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 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) | W 7 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 10 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 86 | 290 | 867 | 4271 | 2831 | 1616 | 573 | 282 | 132 | 51 | 92 | 108 | 276 | 172 | 190 | 473 | 551 | 343 | 163 | 83 | 69 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 10:19AM2.95m | 10:42PM2.89m | 11:18AM2.76m | 11:53PM2.61m | 12:40PM2.65m | 1:30AM2.47m | 2:18PM2.72m | 3:09AM2.55m | 3:39PM3.00m | 4:20AM2.77m | 4:39PM3.34m | 5:13AM3.02m | 5:27PM3.64m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:17PM0.73m | 4:47AM0.81m | 5:22PM0.97m | 5:58AM1.05m | 7:02PM1.11m | 7:40AM1.13m | 8:53PM0.99m | 9:13AM0.98m | 10:09PM0.69m | 10:16AM0.72m | 11:03PM0.38m | 11:05AM0.45m | 11:47PM0.12m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:06 | — |
mm | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | NW 10 | N 10 | — | — | — | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 10 | — | — | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | WNW 8 | W 7 |
| kJ | 86 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 573 | 282 | 132 | 51 | 92 | — | — | 172 | 190 | 473 | — | — | — | 83 | 69 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 |
| kJ | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | — | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | W 6 | W 7 | — | — | — | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 3 | S 4 |
| kJ | 4 | 290 | 867 | 4271 | 2831 | 1616 | — | 2 | 9 | 21 | 16 | 108 | 276 | — | — | — | 551 | 343 | 163 | 4 | 20 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 265 | 288 | 554 | 727 | 265 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 267 | 512 | 265 | 145 | 53 | 296 | 292 | 727 | 313 | 267 | 7 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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