Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period, WNW swell with 94 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 0.8m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu.
Look, it’s a pretty quiet picture for Back Strands over the next couple of weeks. The good news is that this reef setup tends to be fairly consistent, so a blank run like this isn't the norm here. But right now, we’ve got a whole lot of days with tiny, weak surf and no real energy to speak of. The first surfable recommendation doesn't pop up until Thursday the 24th, so you're looking at a solid gap of over a week with nothing to get excited about.
From now up until the 23rd, the swell just isn't there. It's mostly ankle-to-knee high stuff, with wave energy barely registering (values as low as 5 to 80). The winds are often cross-off or cross-on, and while some mornings are clean, the swell is just too small to do anything with.
Things start to shift on the morning of Thursday the 24th of July. The swell finally pushes up to knee-to-waist high at 4ft from the WNW. The combined swell energy hits a moderate 184, which is a step up. The wind is a light cross-on from the W, so it’s a bit bumpy but not blown out. It's not a standout, but it's the first real sign of life.
The best on offer, and the only true standout in this whole outlook, is the afternoon of Friday the 25th of July. The swell builds to about chest high at 5ft from the WNW. That combined energy jumps to a solid 262, and here’s the kicker – the wind goes glassy and onshore from the WNW. That’s a special window. The swell period is a short 8 seconds, so the waves will be a bit sectiony, but that clean, glassy surface will make up for it. This one is a real treat if you can sneak out.
After that, Saturday the 26th holds some waist-to-chest high swell, around 4ft from the W, with clean-ish but onshore winds. It's workable. Sunday the 27th sees the swell getting bigger, up to 6ft, but it gets messy with moderate cross-onshore winds from the W.
Crowds at Back Strands can be an issue at times, so for that Friday afternoon window, you might not be alone, but it’ll be worth it for the clean conditions.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 21 | WNW 7 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 110 | 90 | 59 | 22 | 18 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 23 | 20 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:52PM2.96m | 4:17AM3.01m | 4:53PM3.22m | 5:20AM3.15m | 5:48PM3.50m | 6:16AM3.26m | 6:39PM3.74m | 7:07AM3.31m | 7:27PM3.91m | 7:54AM3.29m | 8:14PM3.97m | 8:40AM3.22m | 8:59PM3.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:02PM0.72m | 10:29AM0.52m | 11:05PM0.47m | 11:23AM0.36m | 00:01AM0.23m | 12:13PM0.21m | 00:53AM0.06m | 12:59PM0.12m | 1:43AM-0.02m | 1:43PM0.09m | 2:30AM0.00m | 2:27PM0.15m | 3:15AM0.12m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 5:11 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 10:05 | — | — | 10:04 | — | — | 10:02 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:59 | — | — | 9:58 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 16 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 22 |
Feels °C | 15 | 17 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | 110 | 90 | 59 | 22 | 18 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 23 | 20 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 21 | W 14 | W 13 | W 7 | WNW 9 | W 18 | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 15 | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 20 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 2 | E 2 | — | — | — | — | ENE 2 | E 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | NW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 178 | 12 | 32 | 33 | 424 | 292 | 46 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 32 | 244 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 316 | 316 | 119 |
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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