Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, WNW swell with 527 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 2.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy 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 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks at Back Strands. It’s going to be a bit of a slow burn, so don’t expect fireworks every day.
The pattern starts off pretty quiet. The first few days are a write-off, with tiny, weak swell and either glassy or light onshore conditions that just don’t add up to anything worth paddling out for. We’re looking at a dry spell from Saturday the 22nd right through until Sunday the 24th, where the swell bumps up a notch but still isn’t doing much. Monday the 24th sees the first faint glimmer of hope. We get a west-northwest groundswell pushing 3 ft with a 10-second period, and the energy jumps up to a moderate 254 (combined). The wind goes glassy in the afternoon, and the conditions are clean. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary – a couple of small waves if you’re desperate.
Tuesday the 25th through Thursday the 27th is a mixed bag. Tuesday has a moderate clean cross-offshore breeze, but the swell drops back to 3 ft and the energy is weak. Wednesday is even smaller. Thursday throws up a 5 ft swell from the west with a 7-second period, but the wind is onshore and messy, so the quality is poor. The good news is that we get a build towards the end of the week.
The standout window arrives on Saturday the 29th of August. This is the one to circle. Early morning we see a solid 6 ft swell from the west-northwest with an 8-second period. The combined energy is a strong 344 (moderate to strong), and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the south-southwest, keeping the surf clean. The conditions are described as “good surf conditions”. For Back Strands, that’s a proper window. The swell direction (WNW) is a decent match for the optimum west direction, and with the light offshore breeze, the reef setup should be producing some nice, lined-up waves. It’s not huge, but it’s the best on offer. Crowds are listed as “sometimes” here, so you might have company, but it won’t be a zoo. Further out, Sunday the 30th gets messy, and Monday the 31st looks strong and blown out with westerly gales.
Looking into the second week, there’s less to get excited about. The first week of September is mostly tiny or onshore slop. Thursday the 3rd of September shows a little pulse of 3 ft swell with moderate energy (123) and clean conditions, but nothing to inspire a dawn mission. It’s a long-range call, so don’t bank on it. Basically, we get one quality session on the 29th, and then a long, quiet gap.
So, the honest take: Saturday the 29th of August is your day. Get on it. The rest of the 16-day window is mostly a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Mon night). 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 | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 11 | W 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 73 | 254 | 204 | 194 | 118 | 57 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 38 | 233 | 243 | 115 | 58 | 163 | 297 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | 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 | 7:50AM1.36m | 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 | |||||||
6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | |
— | 8:50 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 5 | 26 | 4 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — |
7 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 73 | 254 | 204 | 194 | 118 | 57 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 15 | — | — | 115 | 58 | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | W 12 | WNW 11 | — | — | W 12 | W 8 | — | — |
6 | 6 | 2 | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 38 | — | — | 10 | 30 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | W 10 | W 7 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | ESE 2 | ESE 2 | — | — | — | W 7 | WNW 9 | — | SW 3 | W 7 | WNW 7 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 233 | 243 | — | 4 | 163 | 297 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 119 | 117 | 269 | 117 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 36 | 231 | 32 | 7 | 36 | 10 | 0 | 178 | 399 | 48 |
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.











