Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, W swell with 1,397 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Strands this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 2.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.
Honestly, mate, it’s a pretty rough stretch ahead. We’re looking at a long, lean period with hardly anything worth paddling out for. The whole 16-day window kicks off with a couple of days of tiny, weak swell and messy winds, so don’t bother for the first few days. The best you’ll find is a single, brief window right at the very end, and even that’s not much to write home about.
From Sunday the 16th through to Thursday the 27th of August, it’s a write-off. We’ve got swell coming in, but it’s constantly hammered by fresh to strong cross-onshore winds, making everything lumpy and blown out. Even when the swell bumps up to around 4ft to 8ft in the middle of the week, the wind just ruins it. The wave energy is all over the place – from weak as a whisper (47) right up to some strong pulses (1185 on Wednesday the 19th) – but it’s all wind-affected junk. For a reef break like Back Strands, that’s just frustrating.
Then we get a dead spell. From Saturday the 22nd into the following week, the swell drops right off to ankle-snappers (0.7ft to 2ft) with wind mostly straight onshore. Not worth a second look.
Now, here’s the one glimmer. On Thursday morning, the 27th of August, we get a complete fluke. The wind drops to zero – glassy conditions – and we see a small, clean 5ft swell from the west. The period is a short 6 seconds, so it’s not gonna have any grunt, and the combined energy is only a weak 134. It’s surfable, but “very ordinary” is the word. Still, that’s the only time the stars line up. If you’re desperate and you love small, clean bumps, that’s your session. After that, it’s back to strong winds and mess from the 28th onwards, with another 6ft to 8ft swell getting absolutely smashed by near-gale force winds.
So, the only standout is that Thursday morning window on the 27th. It’s the only time you’ll find clean conditions, and for a reef break that likes a west swell, the direction is spot on. Don’t expect any power, but it’ll be the pick of a very poor bunch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the WSW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Wed night, light winds from the NNW by Fri night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | W 10 | NW 6 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 33 | 91 | 68 | 45 | 142 | 198 | 422 | 1086 | 1185 | 816 | 512 | 305 | 110 | 112 | 47 | 35 | 21 | 8 | 11 | 6 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 9:09PM3.67m | 9:31AM3.13m | 9:47PM3.35m | 10:09AM2.95m | 10:27PM3.01m | 10:51AM2.76m | 11:11PM2.67m | 11:41AM2.56m | 00:08AM2.39m | 12:52PM2.41m | 1:34AM2.22m | 2:28PM2.40m | 3:12AM2.25m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:18AM0.25m | 3:22PM0.41m | 3:54AM0.51m | 4:02PM0.67m | 4:31AM0.78m | 4:48PM0.95m | 5:14AM1.05m | 5:46PM1.21m | 6:15AM1.27m | 7:18PM1.37m | 7:50AM1.36m | 9:06PM1.34m | ||||||||
 |  | | |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:01 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:50 | — |
mm | 2 | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | WNW 6 | W 10 | NW 5 |
| kJ | 33 | 91 | 68 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 512 | 305 | 110 | 112 | 47 | 35 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | W 10 | NW 7 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 11 | NNW 6 | W 9 | W 9 |
| kJ | 14 | 18 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 7 | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | W 8 | W 10 | — | W 9 |
| kJ | — | 8 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 8 | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | — | — | — | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | — | N 3 | N 3 | — | N 3 | NW 6 | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | 142 | 198 | 422 | 1086 | 1185 | 816 | — | 17 | 34 | — | 3 | 6 | — | 2 | 11 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 27 | 23 | 7 | 430 | 53 | 738 | 127 | 143 | 127 | 983 | 197 | 721 | 178 | 313 | 313 | 117 | 178 | 308 | 231 |
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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