
Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, W swell with 252 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 9s. 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 1.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you – this stretch is as quiet as a Monday morning beach carpark. We’re looking at a long, blank run here, so don’t get your hopes up for any proper sessions.
The whole 16-day window is basically a bust. The first recommendation doesn’t even pop up until Tuesday the 28th of July, and even then, it’s a write-off. The swell is there, but it’s a mess. Tuesday morning at Back Strands sees a 4ft swell from the W, with a short 8-second period, but the wind is a cross-off from the SSW at 12 mph. The combined energy is moderate (198), but it gets a zero score – the conditions are just poor. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 61°F, about 3°F above average for this time of year.
That pattern just keeps going. Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday, Thursday – all poor. The wind swings onshore, the swell stays small and weak, and the wave comment is always “poor surf conditions.” There is nothing here worth paddling out for. The swell energy drops from moderate into the weak double digits by the end of the week, and by the weekend of the 1st of August, we’re looking at tiny 2ft leftovers with a light cross-off, but still not enough to do anything with.
We hit a real low point from the 3rd of August onward. The swell drops to 1.0ft and 0.7ft, with energy readings as low as 12 to 17. It’s flat, basically. There’s a glimmer of hope on Friday the 7th of August, when the morning goes glassy – wind from the WNW at 3 mph – but the swell is still only 3ft from the NW with a 5-second period. The afternoon is glassy too, with a 3ft swell from the NW, and the energy is 79. The wave comment finally says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” scoring a 1 out of 10. That’s the best we get, and it’s barely a ripple.
After that, it’s back to tiny, weak swells and strong, messy winds. The 9th and 10th of August have 2ft swells with strong breezes and cross-chop – honestly, that setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The final few days are just flat, with 0.7ft and 0.3ft swells and glassy conditions on the 12th of August, but no energy to speak of.
So, what’s the call? There is no standout here. Not one. The whole 16-day window is a gap of poor to flat conditions. For this area, a blank run like this is pretty normal when the forecasts line up this way. It tends not to stay poor for long, but right now, leave the boards in the garage and go do something else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, calm by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | WSW 10 | NW 7 | W 10 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
195 | 191 | 201 | 109 | 101 | 107 | 131 | 71 | 61 | 128 | 150 | 180 | 163 | 128 | 67 | 39 | 27 | 32 | 7 | 8 | 3 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:22PM3.22m | 6:36AM2.90m | 6:56PM3.38m | 7:10AM2.98m | 7:29PM3.51m | 7:43AM3.03m | 8:00PM3.57m | 8:15AM3.05m | 8:32PM3.56m | 8:49AM3.03m | 9:04PM3.50m | 9:25AM2.98m | 9:38PM3.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:56AM0.63m | 00:32AM0.61m | 12:30PM0.48m | 1:06AM0.49m | 1:03PM0.38m | 1:38AM0.40m | 1:34PM0.32m | 2:10AM0.35m | 2:05PM0.33m | 2:42AM0.35m | 2:38PM0.38m | 3:15AM0.38m | 3:13PM0.48m | 3:50AM0.46m | |||||||
5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:42 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:35 | — | — | 9:32 | — | — | 9:30 | |
mm | 2 | — | 4 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
Temp °C | 18 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | N 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | N 8 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | WSW 10 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 |
195 | 2 | 201 | 109 | 101 | 25 | 9 | 71 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 163 | 128 | 67 | 39 | 27 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | — | N 9 | N 9 | NW 12 | — | — | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 7 | W 9 | W 10 | NW 9 |
3 | — | 2 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 8 | — | N 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | W 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 8 | — | — | — | W 7 | WNW 8 | — | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 2 |
— | 191 | — | — | — | 107 | 131 | — | 61 | 128 | 150 | 180 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 145 | 268 | 0 | 53 | 22 | 53 | 512 | 567 | 22 | 512 | 534 | 145 | 283 | 283 | 17 | 7 | 17 | 17 | 43 | 46 | 36 |
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.










