Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 4,033 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 (Sep 02) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s 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 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Well, we've got a bit of a wait on our hands for anything decent at Back Strands. The start of the period is pretty quiet, so don't bother paddling out for a few days.
We kick off on Tuesday, 1st September with some light rain and a weak 4ft swell from the west, but it's coming in at a short 8 seconds and the cross-shore wind is messing it up. The combined energy is a low 182, so there's not much push. The water's a touch warmer than average for this time of year at 62°F.
The next few days stay small and unappealing. Wednesday and Thursday have tiny, weak swells with onshore or cross-shore winds. Friday the 4th is a write-off with a massive 12ft west swell that's packing serious energy (3068) but it's being shredded by 31 mph cross-onshore winds. That's not for paddling, that's kite-surfing territory if anything.
Saturday the 5th shows some improvement by the afternoon. The swell drops to a cleaner 5ft from the west-northwest with a 10-second period and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate at 399. It's only rated as marginal, but it's the first sign of life. Sunday stays clean but tiny.
Monday the 7th afternoon is the next one to watch. We've got 6ft from the west, 10-second period, and a light cross-off wind. The energy is 783, which is solid. It's a clean window, but the quality is still listed as marginal.
The real standout doesn't arrive until Tuesday the 15th. On Tuesday morning, we get a clean 4ft west swell with a 12-second period and light east winds. The combined energy is 496. Then Tuesday afternoon, the wind goes offshore from the east-southeast at just 3 mph, making it glassy. The swell holds at 4ft with that lovely 12-second period and energy of 389. This is the pick of the 16 days – clean, lined-up groundswell.
Wednesday the 16th afternoon is also worth a mention. The swell is 5ft from the west at 9 seconds, but the wind goes glassy. The energy is 412. For a reef break like Back Strands, that glassy condition is a major positive.
So, overall, it's a slow start with a lot of junk. The best bet is the afternoon of Tuesday the 15th. Clean, offshore winds, a solid groundswell from the west, and 12-second period. That's the one to circle on the calendar. There is a gap of poor surf from the 1st until the 5th, then another gap of marginal conditions until the 10th. It's not a classic run, but the 15th has potential.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Tue night, strong winds from the WSW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 5 | W 7 | W 10 | W 11 | W 12 | W 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | WSW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 57 | 40 | 69 | 61 | 361 | 1011 | 3704 | 3925 | 1643 | 647 | 341 | 126 | 109 | 138 | 332 | 304 | 893 | 957 | 873 | 697 | 1012 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 9:34AM3.12m | 9:51PM3.18m | 10:19AM2.95m | 10:42PM2.89m | 11:18AM2.76m | 11:53PM2.61m | 12:40PM2.65m | 1:30AM2.47m | 2:18PM2.72m | 3:09AM2.55m | 3:39PM3.00m | 4:20AM2.77m | 4:39PM3.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:29PM0.50m | 3:57AM0.55m | 4:17PM0.73m | 4:47AM0.81m | 5:22PM0.97m | 5:58AM1.05m | 7:02PM1.11m | 7:40AM1.13m | 8:53PM0.99m | 9:13AM0.98m | 10:09PM0.69m | 10:16AM0.72m | 11:03PM0.38m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — |
mm | 7 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 7 | NNW 11 | W 7 | NW 10 | N 10 | — | — | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 15 | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 57 | 40 | 11 | 61 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 647 | 341 | 126 | 109 | 138 | 109 | 121 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 9 | — | NNW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 3 | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 2 | SW 3 | W 5 | SSW 3 | W 10 | W 11 | W 12 | W 13 | WNW 12 | — | — | S 3 | S 4 | S 4 | W 11 | WSW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 1 | 4 | 69 | 3 | 361 | 1011 | 3704 | 3925 | 1643 | — | — | 5 | 13 | 21 | 332 | 304 | 893 | 957 | 873 | 697 | 1012 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 7 | 46 | 53 | 53 | 534 | 282 | 527 | 570 | 265 | 53 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 424 | 292 | 22 | 27 | 453 | 107 | 442 |
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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