Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, WNW swell with 1,512 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 14s 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 2.1m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s break down what Back Strands has cooking over the next couple weeks.
Honestly, it’s a tough go for the spot right now. For a good week and a half, the wind is the enemy. We’ve got swell, sure, but it’s sloppy, lumpy, and cross-chop for days. The water temp is sitting a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, about 61°F, but that’s small comfort when you’re getting hammered by 30+ mph winds.
The one real bright spot, the only one worth circling on the calendar, is around Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of September. Saturday morning brings a clean cross-offshore south wind and a solid 6ft of groundswell from the WNW with a very long 13-second period. Wave energy is pumping at 1249 – that’s a lot of power. It stays clean through the afternoon with 6ft. That long period will give the waves some serious heft, but on a beach break, it might get a little walled. Sunday morning is smaller at 4ft and an 11-second period, but with a light offshore wind from the NW, it’ll be glassy and clean. That’s your window.
After that, it’s back to the struggle. Tuesday the 15th is a mess – near-gale winds and lumpy 7ft surf, strictly for experts. The weekend of the 19th-20th sees more cross-onshore junk with 6-7ft of messy swell. The run finishes with more lumpy cross-chop into Monday the 22nd.
If it wasn’t for that weekend of the 12th and 13th, I’d say hang the board up for a while. Pounce on that window while the wind plays nice.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Mon night, light winds from the W by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat night, min 11°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 501 | 740 | 1177 | 1451 | 1010 | 586 | 213 | 119 | 73 | 244 | 242 | 233 | 173 | 205 | 1398 | 1249 | 931 | 505 | 292 | 176 | 139 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:39PM3.00m | 4:20AM2.77m | 4:39PM3.34m | 5:13AM3.02m | 5:27PM3.64m | 5:57AM3.22m | 6:09PM3.85m | 6:36AM3.37m | 6:48PM3.94m | 7:12AM3.45m | 7:25PM3.90m | 7:47AM3.46m | 8:00PM3.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:09PM0.69m | 10:16AM0.72m | 11:03PM0.38m | 11:05AM0.45m | 11:47PM0.12m | 11:47AM0.23m | 00:25AM-0.05m | 12:26PM0.09m | 1:01AM-0.11m | 1:03PM0.03m | 1:34AM-0.07m | 1:39PM0.07m | 2:06AM0.07m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | |
 | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:55 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 9 | W 10 | S 4 | — | WNW 11 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 586 | 213 | 119 | 73 | 244 | 242 | 1 | — | 41 | 1398 | 1249 | 931 | 505 | 292 | 176 | 139 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | WNW 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | W 10 | W 8 | W 8 | — | S 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 501 | 740 | 1177 | 1451 | 1010 | — | — | — | 6 | 10 | 21 | 233 | 173 | 205 | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 532 | 268 | 434 | 727 | 53 | 27 | 53 | 13 | 61 | 27 | 494 | 269 | 269 | 0 | 265 | 51 | 127 | 19 | 7 | 10 |
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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