Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, WNW swell with 461 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Strands this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 1.6m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles per hour. The next couple of weeks are a tough slog. The only spot in the mix is Back Strands, a reef that’s fairly exposed to swell, but the wind and waves just aren’t playing ball. The water is a warm 63°, which is way hotter than usual for this time of year – feels like a bath, not a surf.
The whole thing starts flat and ugly. From Friday the 17th of July through the end of the month, it’s a long run of bad conditions. The swell is tiny, mostly 1 to 2 feet, and when it does show a pulse, it’s from the NNW or NW, blowing straight onshore or cross-onshore. The wind is a constant pain – moderate breezes from the NNW or NW, chopping everything up. There’s a big gap here with nothing worth a paddle; you’re looking at nearly two weeks of flat, blown-out junk.
The only glimmer – and it’s a faint one – shows up around the 25th of July. The swell builds to 5 feet on Saturday the 25th morning from the WNW, but it’s still cross-onshore and choppy. The combined energy hits 522 (moderate wave energy), but the wind is bad. By Saturday afternoon, the swell drops to 5 feet, and the wind lightens to a light breeze, making it only marginal. The period is 10 seconds, which is decent for a reef, but the direction is still cross-onshore.
Sunday the 26th of July morning is your best shot. The swell is 5 feet from the WNW, the wind goes light NW and offshore, and the sky is clear. The combined energy is 380 (moderate). It’s still a marginal call, but if you’re keen, that’s your window. The period is 9 seconds, so it’s a bit short, but with offshore wind, it could be clean and fun. Just don’t expect a classic.
After that, into the second week, the swell gets bigger – up to 7 feet on the 27th and 28th – but the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, and the quality is poor. By the 30th and 31st, it’s dropping back to small, weak swell again. There’s no standout here. The whole period is a washout.
Bottom line: if you’ve got to get wet, aim for Sunday the 26th of July morning. It’s the only time with a clean-ish offshore wind and a waist-high wave. The rest is a write-off.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 6 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 5 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 4 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 21 | 23 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 35 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 5 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:59PM3.91m | 9:25AM3.10m | 9:43PM3.72m | 10:10AM2.95m | 10:28PM3.45m | 10:57AM2.80m | 11:14PM3.14m | 11:47AM2.65m | 00:05AM2.82m | 12:44PM2.54m | 1:06AM2.57m | 1:52PM2.49m | 2:18AM2.43m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:15AM0.12m | 3:10PM0.28m | 4:00AM0.30m | 3:55PM0.49m | 4:45AM0.52m | 4:43PM0.73m | 5:31AM0.76m | 5:37PM0.97m | 6:24AM0.96m | 6:44PM1.16m | 7:27AM1.11m | 8:06PM1.25m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — |
 | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:57 | — | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:51 | — | — | 9:50 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | W 8 | NW 6 | W 11 | W 11 | NW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | NW 6 |
| kJ | 19 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 28 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 35 | 35 | 9 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | — | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 12 | W 11 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 |
| kJ | 6 | — | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 21 | — | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 10 | W 7 | W 13 | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 12 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 5 | — | — | NW 7 | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 3 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — |
| kJ | 21 | 10 | 12 | 13 | — | — | 16 | — | 8 | 15 | — | 10 | 18 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 18 | 18 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 494 | 117 | 261 | 399 | 19 | 19 | 316 | 19 | 231 | 178 | 117 | 19 | 1215 | 485 | 422 | 403 | 231 | 19 | 127 | 403 |
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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