Back Strands surfForecast / Sligo / Ireland

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Thursday 11 Dec 2025 IST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
10.1° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Strands this week:

The surf forecast for Back Strands over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Dec 14) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 12 days are 6.5m 21s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Dec 18) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sun 14th Dec)7ft (2.1m) 14s
Best Surf12AM (Thu 18th Dec)21ft (6.5m) 21s
Most Powerful12AM (Thu 18th Dec)21ft (6.5m) 21s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the S on Sat morning, light winds from the WSW by Sun afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun night, min 6°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Mon night, near gales from the S by Tue night).

Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
Thu
18
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
4
7
5
4
0
0
2
2
3
0
0
2
3
4
3
0
0
1
!
!
8
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
3
W
4.5
W
4
W
3.5
W
3
W
3
W
2.5
W
2.5
W
2.2
W
2.1
W
2.5
W
2.5
W
3.5
W
3
W
2.5
W
2
W
2.1
W
2.5
W
6.5
W
6
W
5
W
Period(s) (?)161817161514141414131515151514131314211919
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)4808113278979739340273004260924191811156731142942482241662980140114612452355412516116721
Wind
(km/h)
20
SSE
25
S
25
SW
25
SSW
50
S
45
SSW
30
SSW
25
SSW
10
WSW
45
S
25
WSW
30
SSW
25
WSW
20
S
20
S
55
S
35
SW
40
SW
55
SW
25
SSW
25
ESE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
off
crosscross-
off
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
11:13PM
2.43
11:31AM
2.99
12:22AM
2.40
12:35PM
2.84
1:29AM
2.47
1:38PM
2.76
2:27AM
2.60
2:34PM
2.75
3:15AM
2.76
3:24PM
2.78
3:56AM
2.91
4:07PM
2.84
4:34AM
3.05
4:47PM
2.90
Low Tide
/ height (m)
4:51AM
1.05
6:13PM
0.90
6:07AM
1.16
7:16PM
0.91
7:22AM
1.17
8:09PM
0.87
8:25AM
1.10
8:54PM
0.81
9:16AM
0.97
9:34PM
0.74
10:00AM
0.84
10:11PM
0.65
10:39AM
0.71
Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
Thu
18
Sunrise-8:45--8:45--8:47--8:48--8:48--8:49--8:51-
Sunset--4:07--4:07--4:07--4:07--4:07--4:07--4:08
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
mod rain
mod rain
mod rain
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
mod rain
Rain (mm)
----135776--22-5311-8
Temp. °C7797111212121213998671112109810
Feels °C (?)2131235710532111151-213
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Back Strands:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Back Strands surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


false

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 12 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest