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Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surfForecast / Sligo / Ireland
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Wednesday 20 May 2026 ISTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
11.7° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)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 Wednesday (May 20) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s 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 1.6m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 20) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (May 21) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Wed 20th May) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Wed 20th May) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 20th May) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 20 | Thursday 21 | Friday 22 | Saturday 23 | Sunday 24 | Monday 25 | Tuesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 12 | W 10 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 14 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | |
932 | 640 | 268 | 146 | 112 | 110 | 82 | 103 | 102 | 90 | 70 | 60 | 85 | 81 | 257 | 437 | 416 | 423 | 403 | 305 | 188 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | |
High Tide | 9:04AM3.14m | 9:27PM3.55m | 10:01AM2.87m | 10:25PM3.40m | 11:05AM2.64m | 11:30PM3.25m | 12:17PM2.49m | 00:39AM3.12m | 1:32PM2.46m | 1:48AM3.05m | 2:41PM2.55m | 2:51AM3.02m | 3:38PM2.70m | 3:45AM3.01m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:54PM0.38m | 3:44AM0.37m | 3:46PM0.60m | 4:50AM0.58m | 4:46PM0.82m | 6:06AM0.73m | 5:57PM0.98m | 7:24AM0.78m | 7:17PM1.06m | 8:31AM0.75m | 8:31PM1.03m | 9:24AM0.68m | 9:31PM0.94m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | |  | |
 | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:40 | — | — | 9:43 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:49 |
— | — | 2 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
7 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 10 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 12 | W 10 | WSW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 14 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 |
 kJ | 932 | 640 | 268 | 146 | 112 | 110 | 82 | 103 | 102 | 90 | 70 | 60 | 85 | 81 | 257 | 437 | 416 | 423 | 403 | 305 | 188 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | W 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 17 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 23 | 9 | 2 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 2 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 265 | 53 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 53 | 19 | 77 | 12 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Back Strands surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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