Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 06 Oct 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
14.8°C
1.8° 

Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Back Strands surf forecast from 6 Oct 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 11 Oct, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 10 Oct, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, WNW swell with 4,065 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 11 Oct, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period with WNW 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 Sunday (Oct 11) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Oct 10) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Monday (Oct 12) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Sun 11th Oct)6ft (1.8m) 11s
Best Surf 7AM (Sun 11th Oct)6ft (1.8m) 11s
Most Powerful 7AM (Sat 10th Oct)11ft (3.5m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.


Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue afternoon, strong winds from the W by Fri morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Fri night, calm by Sat night).

Tue
6
Wednesday
7
Thursday
8
Friday
9
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
WNW
10
1.3
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
10
2
WNW
10
1.8
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
11
1
WNW
10
2.5
W
9
3
W
11
3.5
W
10
3.5
WNW
12
3.5
WNW
13
3
WNW
12
2.2
WNW
12
1.6
WNW
11
1.3
WNW
10
0.8
WNW
9
0.5
W
10
0.5
W
9
0.4
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
363
307
584
823
817
415
236
1090
1873
2196
3823
4036
2691
1355
572
320
115
45
41
37
Wind (km/h)
20
NW
20
NW
35
NW
30
NW
25
NW
20
S
30
S
40
WSW
45
W
50
W
55
WNW
50
WNW
40
WNW
20
WNW
10
S
25
SSE
30
SSE
20
S
25
SSE
25
WNW
Wind State
on
on
on
on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
High Tide
4:10AM2.77m
4:21PM3.38m
4:57AM3.02m
5:06PM3.58m
5:37AM3.23m
5:46PM3.69m
6:12AM3.39m
6:22PM3.70m
6:46AM3.48m
6:57PM3.63m
7:17AM3.50m
7:31PM3.47m
Low Tide
10:00PM0.58m
10:01AM0.75m
10:47PM0.32m
10:48AM0.51m
11:25PM0.13m
11:28AM0.32m
11:59PM0.02m
12:05PM0.19m
00:31AM-0.00m
12:41PM0.14m
1:01AM0.05m
1:15PM0.17m
1:31AM0.17m
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
heavy rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
cloud
light rain
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
—
—
7:46
—
—
7:48
—
—
7:48
—
—
7:50
—
—
7:52
—
—
7:54
—
—
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:59
—
—
6:55
—
—
6:53
—
—
6:51
—
—
6:49
—
—
6:45
—
—
6:44
—
 mm
—
—
2
—
—
3
12
7
1
2
3
—
—
—
—
—
2
—
3
25
Temp °C
12
12
11
12
12
9
15
15
12
12
11
11
11
11
12
13
15
16
17
17
Feels °C
8
8
3
4
5
4
9
8
3
1
0
0
2
5
8
8
13
13
13
13
  • 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
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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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