Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, NW swell with 45 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 0.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
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 coming down the pipe for Back Strands.
To be straight with you, the next week and a half is a write-off. We’re looking at a long, long stretch of nothing but tiny, weak waves and mostly onshore wind. From Wednesday the 15th through to Friday the 24th, the swell is barely breaking three feet, with combined energy readings that are mostly weak, under 100, and a lot of those days with poor surf conditions flagged. There’s a few glassy mornings, like Thursday morning the 16th and Sunday morning the 19th, but with a wave height of just 0.7ft or 1ft, it’s not worth paddling out. That’s a solid ten-day gap, so if you’re jonesing for a wave, you’ll have to wait.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on Saturday the 25th. Even then, it’s not going to blow you away. We’ve got a small bump of 3ft from the WNW, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy climbs to a moderate 133, so there’s a little bit of life. The real beauty here is the wind: Saturday afternoon is forecast for glassy conditions, dead calm, with the morning showing a light cross-off breeze. That means clean, workable little waves. It’s surfable, but very ordinary – think of it as a summer-size session for getting wet. Still, a glassy day is a glassy day, and that’s the standout in this entire outlook.
After that, conditions get lumpy again. Sunday the 26th brings onshore wind and building chop, and then things take a turn. Keep an eye on Wednesday the 29th. We’ve got a solid 8ft to 8ft WNW swell rolling in, with combined energy readings cranking up to 907 and 1021 – that’s strong wave energy. But here’s the catch: that size is going to be too big for beginners, and with cross-onshore wind, those conditions will be choppy and messy. It’s a high-energy day, but it’s not going to be pretty. Best leave that one to the experts if you’re feeling brave.
So, in short: it’s a long blank spell, then a small glassy window on the 25th for the die-hards, and a big but blown-out wave on the 29th for the crew with big boards and no fear.
Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wed 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 19 | 23 | 15 | 44 | 27 | 14 | 14 | 39 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 7:27PM3.91m | 7:54AM3.29m | 8:14PM3.97m | 8:40AM3.22m | 8:59PM3.91m | 9:25AM3.10m | 9:43PM3.72m | 10:10AM2.95m | 10:28PM3.45m | 10:57AM2.80m | 11:14PM3.14m | 11:47AM2.65m | 00:05AM2.82m | 12:44PM2.54m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:43AM-0.02m | 1:43PM0.09m | 2:30AM0.00m | 2:27PM0.15m | 3:15AM0.12m | 3:10PM0.28m | 4:00AM0.30m | 3:55PM0.49m | 4:45AM0.52m | 4:43PM0.73m | 5:31AM0.76m | 5:37PM0.97m | 6:24AM0.96m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 |
 | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:59 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:57 | — | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | 9:51 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 |
Feels °C | 24 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | W 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | W 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | NW 6 | W 9 |
| kJ | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 12 | 19 | 23 | 15 | 4 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 39 | 37 | 34 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 11 | W 10 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | W 8 | — | W 8 | W 10 | W 7 | W 9 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 6 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NW 7 | — | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 3 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 44 | — | — | 14 | 9 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 15 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 117 | 117 | 117 | 121 | 77 | 313 | 1272 | 117 | 261 | 399 | 19 | 19 | 316 | 19 | 231 | 276 | 231 | 77 | 505 | 77 | 32 |
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.
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