Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 24 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.4°C
1.6° 

Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Back Strands surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, WNW swell with 286 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s 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 (Aug 24) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 11s 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 1.1m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Mon 24th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 11s
Best Surf 1PM (Mon 24th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 11s
Most Powerful 1PM (Mon 24th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, I’m looking at the charts for Back Strands, and honestly, it’s a pretty grim run for the next couple of weeks. There’s a big gap of nothing but poor surf conditions right through the bulk of the forecast.

We’ve got a tiny window of something worthwhile on Monday, August 24th. The morning is just okay – a clean 3ft swell from the WNW with an 11 second period (254 energy), but the wind is a light offshore breeze, so it’s workable. The real standout is the afternoon. The wind drops to glassy, the swell picks up to 4ft from the west, 10 seconds, and the energy is moderate at 270. It’s going to be clean and smooth. This is the best on offer, and it’s not a barnburner, but for a quick session, it’ll be fun.

After that, it’s a long, hard slog. From Tuesday the 25th all the way through to the end of the month, it’s a write-off. We’re talking about a solid week of poor surf, with cross-off and onshore winds, tiny swell, and weak energy. A few days in there the energy drops to just 12 or 14 – that’s barely a ripple.

We get a pulse of bigger swell kicking in around Thursday, September 3rd. The morning (September 3rd) sees an 8ft WNW swell with a 10-second period and a massive 1260 energy reading. But the conditions are marginal, with a moderate cross-off wind. That’s not a clean day for a paddle. The afternoon gets hit by a fresh 35 km/h cross-shore wind, making it a washing machine. That’s more for the kite crew than us.

The biggest swell of the whole period hits on Sunday, September 6th and Monday, September 7th. We’re looking at a 5ft to 8ft west swell with a very long period of 18 seconds on the 6th, and then a 14-second groundswell on the 7th. The energy readings are huge – 1426, 1679, and even 2816. That’s proper, powerful groundswell. But the local wind is a problem. The 6th has light onshore/ cross-onshore wind, and the 7th has a fresh 35 km/h cross-off which keeps it clean but very windy. For a point break or reef, this long-period energy would be a dream, but for a beach set-up, it’s going to be tricky to find a pocket. The 7th morning is the most promising of the big stuff, but it’s still a marginal call because of the conditions.

Water temps are about average for this time of year, nothing weird.

So, to sum it up: the only real session is Monday afternoon, August 24th, when it’s glassy and clean. After that, you’re waiting a long time for a proper, clean day.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Fri afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
WNW
11
1.1
W
10
1
W
10
0.8
W
10
0.6
W
9
0.4
W
8
0.3
W
8
0.3
W
7
0.6
W
10
0.6
WNW
9
0.5
W
9
0.4
WNW
8
1
NW
6
1
NW
6
0.8
NW
6
0.7
WNW
6
0.7
NW
7
0.6
NW
8
0.5
NW
6
0.3
W
11
0.4
W
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
254
270
206
118
56
21
10
10
67
66
40
22
83
71
42
35
53
46
18
20
29
Wind (km/h)
10
ESE
5
ESE
15
ESE
20
ESE
20
ESE
20
ENE
20
E
20
ENE
15
ENE
20
E
10
E
5
NNW
15
NW
20
NW
15
W
15
SW
0
NNE
15
SSE
20
S
10
W
35
WNW
Wind State
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
on
cross-on
cross
glassy
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
4:19AM2.41m
4:44PM2.80m
5:04AM2.60m
5:23PM3.06m
5:41AM2.80m
5:57PM3.30m
6:13AM2.97m
6:28PM3.50m
6:45AM3.12m
6:58PM3.64m
7:16AM3.23m
7:29PM3.71m
7:48AM3.29m
8:00PM3.70m
Low Tide
10:19AM1.06m
11:01PM0.94m
11:00AM0.83m
11:37PM0.71m
11:35AM0.61m
00:09AM0.50m
12:06PM0.43m
00:40AM0.32m
12:37PM0.29m
1:09AM0.18m
1:08PM0.20m
1:39AM0.11m
1:40PM0.18m
2:10AM0.10m
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part cloud
mod rain
light rain
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light rain
mod rain
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
cloud
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rain showers
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<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:26
6:28
6:31
6:31
6:33
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:45
8:43
8:40
8:37
8:36
8:34
8:30
 mm
9
1
3
9
1
1
1
4
4
3
Temp °C
17
20
17
18
20
15
17
17
17
17
18
16
15
15
15
14
15
15
14
15
14
Feels °C
15
19
14
15
16
12
15
15
16
15
17
16
13
12
12
11
15
14
11
12
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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