Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, W swell with 254 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with W 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 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s 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 1.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your board, let's take a look at what's coming up for Back Strands. This is a reef setup, so it needs a good swell direction to really work, and it's got a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks.
We're starting off pretty slow. The best bet in the near future is actually Monday the 24th of August. We've got a clean 4 ft swell from the west, with a period of 10 seconds, and it's dead glassy. The water is sitting at 62° and is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice bonus. It's not huge, but it's the only window of clean, rideable waves for a while, so make the most of it.
After that, it's a bit of a desert. We've got a long stretch of small, weak swell and messy or onshore winds. The energy drops right off, with the combined swell energy falling to just 12 to 60 (weak). There's a few days of very ordinary conditions around the 29th, but nothing to get excited about until we get into the second week.
Now, hold on to your hats for the 7th of September. Monday morning is looking like a massive outlier. The models are showing a 23 ft swell from the west, with a very long period of 19 seconds. The combined energy is a staggering 35016, which is next-level powerful. The wind is light and variable, but the comment says it's predicted to be too big for this break. This is one for absolute experts only, and even then, it's a serious call. It's a long-range forecast, so it's promising but keep an eye on it.
The rest of the first week of September sees some moderate sized swell, but strong onshore winds ruin the party. The 7 ft to 10 ft days are all blown out or have the wrong wind direction. The 2nd of September has a 7 ft swell with a 35 km/h cross-offshore, which is clean but the wind is strong. The 5th has a 10 ft west swell but with onshore northwest winds, so it's a no-go.
In short, it's a real story of two extremes: a small, clean window at the start, and a potentially massive, dangerous swell on the 7th that's only for the brave. The days in between are mostly a write-off. Stick with the Monday glass-off for a fun session, and keep your eyes peeled on that 7th September date if you're an experienced charger.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 270 | 204 | 118 | 56 | 21 | 18 | 10 | 67 | 60 | 40 | 37 | 45 | 88 | 106 | 81 | 91 | 90 | 52 | 29 | 45 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 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 | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 10 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 19 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | W 10 |
| kJ | 270 | 204 | 118 | 56 | 21 | 18 | 10 | 67 | 60 | 40 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | 90 | 52 | 29 | 45 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 17 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | W 8 | NW 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 2 | — | — | ENE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 45 | 88 | 106 | 81 | 91 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 32 | 119 | 32 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 313 | 319 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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