Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 12 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
15.8°C
1.7° 

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 12 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, WNW swell with 2,977 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 12s 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sat 12th Sep)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Best Surf10PM (Sat 12th Sep)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Most Powerful10PM (Thu 17th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 14s

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 Back Strands. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag, with a real wait for the good stuff. We’ve got a few days of rough and messy conditions to get through first, but there’s a proper window of clean surf coming in the second week.

Right off the bat, Saturday the 12th is a write-off. We’ve got a 7ft west swell, but that’s being hammered by a 22 mph cross-shore wind. The water is 60°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s no comfort when the surf is a lumpy, cross-chop mess. Sunday the 13th is a step in the right direction with the swell dropping to 4ft from the WNW and light cross-off winds. The combined energy is weak (280), and it’s small, but it’ll be clean. That’s your best bet for a gentle paddle if you just need to get wet. The following weekdays through to the 17th are mostly blown out or too small, with onshore gales and building swell making for dangerous, messy conditions. The 17th sees a 8ft to 10ft W swell, but with strong cross-onshore winds over 25 mph, that’s a hard pass.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. After that rough patch, we get a standout. Monday the 21st of September is the pick of the entire forecast. The wind swings light and offshore from the SSE in the morning, with a clean 6ft WNW swell. The combined energy is moderate (684), and the conditions will be glassy. This is the one to circle on your calendar – clean, lined-up waves with an offshore breeze. Tuesday the 22nd holds a bit of that magic, too, with a glassy afternoon session on a 4ft WNW swell, though it’s a touch smaller and the energy is a bit lower (416). It’s still a great option.

The real punch comes on Saturday the 26th of September. We’re looking at a long-period, 15-second groundswell from the WNW, hitting 6ft in the morning. The combined energy is strong (1358), and with a light offshore breeze, the waves will have real power and shape. This one’s got excellent potential for experienced surfers – that period is very long, so expect clean, powerful lines. It’s going to be best at the reef, where the long-period swell will really stand up. The wind holds clean, so get on it early before the cross-shore kicks in later in the day.

To sum it up: the next week is mostly a bust with strong winds and messy surf. Focus on the clean morning of Monday the 21st for a fun, manageable session, and the standout is definitely Saturday the 26th of September for the big, clean, long-period groundswell. That’s the one worth waiting for.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat morning, calm by Sat night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Wed morning, strong winds from the W by Thu morning).

Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
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
1
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
W
11
1.9
WNW
12
1.5
WNW
12
1.1
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
10
0.7
WNW
9
0.4
W
8
0.9
W
11
1.2
W
11
1.4
W
10
1.6
WNW
10
1.9
WNW
12
1.6
W
10
1.5
W
10
2
W
9
2.5
W
11
3
WNW
12
3
WNW
14
2.3
WNW
13
2
W
12
2.3
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1126
995
559
260
137
73
28
184
317
392
523
953
551
431
635
1603
2511
2780
1697
1194
1246
Wind (km/h)
35
WSW
15
WNW
5
WNW
5
SSE
10
SSW
15
S
20
S
20
SSW
25
WSW
25
W
35
NW
25
WNW
15
WNW
30
SW
35
W
45
W
40
W
35
W
25
SW
25
WSW
25
SSW
Wind State
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
on
on
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
7:25PM3.90m
7:47AM3.46m
8:00PM3.74m
8:20AM3.39m
8:34PM3.49m
8:53AM3.26m
9:08PM3.19m
9:26AM3.07m
9:44PM2.87m
10:03AM2.85m
10:23PM2.55m
10:49AM2.61m
11:18PM2.28m
Low Tide
1:03PM0.03m
1:34AM-0.07m
1:39PM0.07m
2:06AM0.07m
2:15PM0.19m
2:37AM0.27m
2:50PM0.39m
3:07AM0.52m
3:27PM0.65m
3:40AM0.79m
4:07PM0.93m
4:17AM1.07m
5:00PM1.22m
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:00
7:01
7:03
7:05
7:07
7:09
7:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:59
7:55
7:53
7:51
7:49
7:45
7:44
 mm
1
1
3
1
4
2
1
2
3
Temp °C
17
15
14
16
19
17
17
18
14
14
14
13
13
15
14
14
14
14
15
16
15
Feels °C
12
13
14
16
18
16
15
15
11
9
8
7
10
10
8
6
6
7
10
11
9
  • 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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