Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 22 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.6°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 22 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 12s period, WNW swell with 256 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 1.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Mon 24th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Mon 24th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Most Powerful 7AM (Mon 24th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, it’s Rusty. Look, I’ve had a good look at what’s coming up for Back Strands over the next couple of weeks, and I’ve gotta be straight with you – it’s a pretty bleak run for most of it. There are some windows where things clean up, but the swell is small and the majority of the time the wind is just all over the shop. It’s one of those periods where you’ll be watching the forecast more than surfing.

Let’s kick off with Saturday the 22nd of August. Right from the start, the wind is cross-on from the north at 9 mph and the swell is a tiny 1 ft from the north-west with a short period of 5 seconds. Wave energy is weak at 15, so it’s small and chopped up. Not worth paddling out. Sunday the 23rd is glassy in the morning, wind from the south-west at 3 mph, but the swell drops to just 0.7 ft and 9 seconds, with energy down at 10. It’s clean but too small to even get a ride. Monday the 24th is where things finally get a pulse. The morning sees an offshore breeze from the east-southeast at 9 mph, with a 3 ft swell from the west-northwest at a moderate 11 seconds. Energy jumps to 254 – moderate – and the waves are surfable, if ordinary. The afternoon glassies off with the wind dropping to a 3 mph south-easterly, still 3 ft from the west at 10 seconds, energy at 208. It’s the best of a flat week, but don’t expect anything memorable.

Tuesday the 25th through Thursday the 27th are largely blown out or too small. Winds stay moderate to breezy from the east, and the swell sits under 3 ft with weak to low energy. By Friday the 28th, the swell pushes up to 4 ft from the north-west, but the wind is onshore from the north-west at 16 mph, making a messy 131 energy. Saturday the 29th through to Tuesday the 1st of September is a mix of small swell and strong wind. The best of that is Sunday the 30th morning with a cross-off wind from the south-southwest at 9 mph and a 3 ft west swell, but the period is short at 6 seconds and energy is only 99. It’s clean but weak.

The real standout – or as close as we get – is on Saturday the 5th of September. That morning there’s an offshore breeze from the south-southeast at 16 mph, with a 6 ft swell from the west-northwest at a solid 10 seconds. Energy is strong at 784, and the wave comment calls it marginal but surfable. This is the best wave of the entire run. For experts wanting a late-season push, this is your window. The afternoon holds a solid 6 ft from the west at 10 seconds with 584 energy and a cross-off breeze. Keep in mind though, the morning swell is over 5 ft but under 8 ft, so it’s a little heavy for beginners.

The period for Back Strands is mostly a drought with decent clean spells only on a few mornings and afternoons. The water temperature sits at 62°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – the anomaly is 3°F, so you’ll notice it’s a bit more pleasant on the skin. Crowds are listed as “sometimes”, so you might find a few others out if you time the windows right.

This is a reef break that’s fairly consistent and fairly exposed to the west swell, with an optimum direction from the west itself. The morning of the 5th of September lines up perfectly: west-northwest swell with offshore south-southeast wind. That’s as good as it gets.

Alright, that’s the story. Keep an eye on the wind for that Saturday. Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
AM
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
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
0.4
NW
5
0.2
W
9
0.2
WNW
6
0.2
W
9
0.4
WNW
8
0.6
WNW
10
1
WNW
11
1
W
10
1
W
10
0.8
W
10
0.6
W
9
0.4
W
8
0.4
W
8
0.3
W
8
0.6
W
10
0.7
W
10
0.6
W
9
0.4
WNW
8
0.8
NW
7
1.2
NW
7
1
WNW
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
7
7
3
6
26
73
254
208
198
118
56
22
18
10
80
90
59
22
60
131
93
Wind (km/h)
15
N
15
NNW
0
W
5
SW
5
WNW
15
SE
15
ESE
5
SE
15
E
25
E
20
ESE
25
ESE
15
ESE
10
SSE
15
E
15
NE
15
NNE
10
NNE
15
NNW
25
NW
20
W
Wind State
cross-on
on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
2:28PM2.40m
3:12AM2.25m
3:50PM2.56m
4:19AM2.41m
4:44PM2.80m
5:04AM2.60m
5:23PM3.06m
5:41AM2.80m
5:57PM3.30m
6:13AM2.97m
6:28PM3.50m
6:45AM3.12m
6:58PM3.64m
Low Tide
9:06PM1.34m
9:21AM1.26m
10:15PM1.16m
10:19AM1.06m
11:01PM0.94m
11:00AM0.83m
11:37PM0.71m
11:35AM0.61m
00:09AM0.50m
12:06PM0.43m
00:40AM0.32m
12:37PM0.29m
1:09AM0.18m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
light rain
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:22
6:24
6:26
6:28
6:31
6:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:50
8:47
8:45
8:43
8:40
8:37
8:36
 mm
1
5
3
1
1
Temp °C
15
16
15
15
18
18
19
21
18
16
16
16
18
20
17
19
19
17
16
14
15
Feels °C
12
12
13
14
17
16
17
20
15
11
12
12
17
20
15
18
16
15
15
9
10
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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