Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, WNW swell with 127 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period with NW 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 02) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m 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 1.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 8s |
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 coming down the line for Back Strands, because honestly, we’ve got a bit of a wait for anything worthwhile.
The 16-day window kicks off with a tease on the morning of Wednesday the 29th of July. We’ve got a tiny 3ft swell pushing in from the WNW, with a short period of 8 seconds, so it’s pretty weak sauce with a combined energy of only 111. The water is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The big thing here is the wind – glassy, pure glass. It’s the best the forecast has to offer, but it’s a one-hit wonder. That morning session is surfable, but very ordinary. After that, the wind swings and the conditions just fall apart. The entire rest of the week through the end of July and into the first week of August is a total write-off. We’re looking at a massive gap of about 10 days of genuinely poor surf with strong onshore winds, rain, and tiny, messy waves. There’s a brief moment on the morning of Sunday the 2nd of August where we get another glassy window with a 2ft NW swell, but it’s still weak with a combined energy of 68. It’s surfable, but again, very ordinary.
The period from Monday the 3rd of August right through to the end of the 16-day run is a desert. The swell drops to barely a ripple, with heights from 0.7ft to 2ft and combined energy under 100. Even when the wind goes clean or offshore, the swell just isn’t there. The best of a bad lot might be the morning of Saturday the 8th of August with a 1ft WNW swell and glassy conditions, but it’s too small to get excited about.
So, the honest truth is there’s no standout session here. The one morning on the 29th of July is the only time the stars nearly align, but it’s not a classic. For a reef break that’s fairly consistent and exposed to the west, this is a brutal blank run. It’s one of those periods where the forecasts will just have to change. For now, I’d say the setup looks more interesting for a kite than a paddleboard.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 5 | NW 7 | NW 7 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 109 | 83 | 70 | 127 | 94 | 56 | 86 | 84 | 51 | 44 | 45 | 57 | 65 | 51 | 28 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:56PM3.38m | 7:10AM2.98m | 7:29PM3.51m | 7:43AM3.03m | 8:00PM3.57m | 8:15AM3.05m | 8:32PM3.56m | 8:49AM3.03m | 9:04PM3.50m | 9:25AM2.98m | 9:38PM3.38m | 10:04AM2.91m | 10:18PM3.21m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:30PM0.48m | 1:06AM0.49m | 1:03PM0.38m | 1:38AM0.40m | 1:34PM0.32m | 2:10AM0.35m | 2:05PM0.33m | 2:42AM0.35m | 2:38PM0.38m | 3:15AM0.38m | 3:13PM0.48m | 3:50AM0.46m | 3:52PM0.63m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | | |
 | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:35 | — | — | 9:32 | — | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:29 |
mm | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | NNW 9 | WNW 7 | — | N 8 | N 9 | W 10 | N 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 5 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 4 |
| kJ | 109 | 83 | 70 | 8 | 94 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 57 | 65 | 51 | 28 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | — | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — | W 11 | N 8 | — | — | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WNW 8 | — | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 127 | — | 56 | 86 | 84 | 51 | 44 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 117 | 27 | 517 | 727 | 23 | 89 | 127 | 27 | 282 | 1266 | 48 | 0 | 19 | 7 | 17 | 117 | 7 | 17 | 19 | 442 |
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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