Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 03 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.5°C
1.9° 

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 3 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 4,068 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Sat 5th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s
Best Surf 1PM (Sat 5th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s
Most Powerful10AM (Fri 4th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for Back Strands.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty grim. There’s a lot of wind and messy conditions on the menu before we see any real quality. The water is sitting at 62°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s small comfort when the surf’s blown out.

We kick off on Thursday, 3rd September with some small waves around 3ft, but a 12 mph cross-offshore wind from the SSW is keeping things clean. The problem is the swell is weak, with combined energy at just 97, and the period is short at 7 seconds. It’s surfable but hardly worth the paddle. That afternoon, things get worse as the wind swings SW and picks up to 22 mph, turning the surf lumpy. Friday, 4th September brings a big jump in size – 12ft from the west with a 12-second period – but the wind is howling onshore at 28 mph, making it a total mess. The energy is massive at 4068, but it’s a kite-surfing setup, not for paddle surfing. That trend continues through the weekend with strong winds and cross-chop.

Monday, 7th September sees the swell drop to 7ft, but the wind is still fresh and cross-shore, keeping the surface lumpy. The energy is moderate at 555. Tuesday, 8th September has another big pulse of 10ft from the WNW, but with onshore winds at 25 mph, it’s a write-off. The energy is strong at 1215, but it’s not for us. The whole first week is a write-off for clean, quality waves.

Now, there’s a couple of little windows that tease us. On Saturday, 12th September, we finally get a break. The morning brings a clean 8ft swell from the WNW with a 13-second period and a light offshore breeze from the ESE at 6 mph. The energy is strong at 1935, and it’s excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon is a touch smaller at 6ft, but still clean with gentle offshore winds. That’s the standout session – the best on offer across the whole forecast. The long period (13 seconds) means it’s a proper groundswell, so it’ll wrap in nicely, but those long gaps between sets mean you’ve got to be patient.

Tuesday, 15th September also looks promising. The morning is clean with 4ft from the WNW and a 10-second period, and the wind is light. By the afternoon, it goes glassy – dead calm – with the same 4ft. That’s a dreamy session for a log or a fish, with energy at 300, so it’s moderate. Good luck getting a wave to yourself though, as crowds are sometimes an issue here.

Beyond that, the swell drops off again and the wind turns nasty from the 17th onward. So, to sum it up: the first week and a half is largely a gap with no real recommendations. The only true standouts are the morning of Saturday, 12th September for the bigger, cleaner groundswell, and Tuesday, 15th September for the glassy, smaller waves. Don’t hold your breath for the rest.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat night, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Thu night, light winds from the SSW by Sat morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 13°C on Mon morning). Mainly strong winds.

Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
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
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
W
7
1.4
WSW
8
2
W
10
3.5
W
12
3
W
12
2.5
WNW
12
1.6
W
10
1.3
W
10
0.8
WNW
9
0.7
W
8
0.6
W
9
1.5
W
6
2
W
8
1.8
W
9
2
W
9
3
WNW
9
3
WNW
10
2.3
WNW
10
1.5
WNW
10
1.1
WNW
9
1
W
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
86
284
865
4068
2805
1641
562
319
103
66
60
165
555
493
635
1215
1798
1162
399
180
127
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
35
SW
35
WSW
45
W
40
W
30
W
20
SW
20
SSW
20
SSE
30
S
35
S
25
W
35
WSW
35
W
35
W
40
WNW
35
WNW
30
WNW
25
SW
20
S
10
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:19AM2.95m
10:42PM2.89m
11:18AM2.76m
11:53PM2.61m
12:40PM2.65m
1:30AM2.47m
2:18PM2.72m
3:09AM2.55m
3:39PM3.00m
4:20AM2.77m
4:39PM3.34m
5:13AM3.02m
5:27PM3.64m
Low Tide
4:17PM0.73m
4:47AM0.81m
5:22PM0.97m
5:58AM1.05m
7:02PM1.11m
7:40AM1.13m
8:53PM0.99m
9:13AM0.98m
10:09PM0.69m
10:16AM0.72m
11:03PM0.38m
11:05AM0.45m
11:47PM0.12m
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:45
6:47
6:48
6:50
6:52
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:21
8:19
8:15
8:14
8:10
8:08
8:06
 mm
5
4
2
1
1
4
1
5
1
2
7
10
Temp °C
16
14
15
15
15
14
15
15
17
18
20
16
14
15
13
13
14
14
14
15
15
Feels °C
13
8
9
7
7
7
12
11
14
12
15
14
9
8
6
5
6
7
11
11
11
  • 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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