Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 6s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 11s period, W swell with 1,007 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 2.1m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the same picture in feet and miles per hour.
Honestly, it’s a grim outlook for the next two weeks. We’re looking at a long, slow start where you can just leave the board in the car.
From the 28th of August, we’ve got nothing. It’s flat to tiny – knee-high slop from the WNW, less than a foot, with zero push and onshore winds. That’s a solid 3-4 day hole with nothing to even think about.
The first real chance comes on the morning of Monday, the 31st of August. A little bump shows up, about 3 feet from the WNW, but the wind is howling onshore at 15 mph, so it’s just a lumpy mess. By the afternoon, the combined energy picks up a bit, hitting 228, but the wind is still a strong cross-onshore at 18 mph, making it a real battle.
The only time to smile is Tuesday afternoon, September 1st. The morning is still bumpy, but by the afternoon the wind goes *glassy* – totally smooth. The wave height is a clean 4 feet from the WNW. It’s not big, but with that mirror-like surface, it’ll be the cleanest ride we see. The water is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than usual, so it’s not too bad.
That’s it for the good stuff. The rest of the time is a tale of either not enough swell or too much wind. Wednesday the 2nd has clean offshore wind but only a 2-foot wave – you’d be lying on your board. The swell tries to come back up on the 3rd, hitting 3 feet with a clean offshore in the morning, but it’s weak. That afternoon, the wind cranks up to 28 mph from the SW, turning a 5-foot swell into a total chop-fest. That’s kite-only kind of energy.
The 5th of September sees a proper 7-foot swell from the WNW with a good 11-second interval, and the energy is huge at 925. But the wind is a moderate cross-onshore at 12 mph, so it’s choppy and gonna be a handful for anyone not on a step-up. Too big and messy for the average surfer.
The rest of the run fades out. We see some 4-5 foot days on the 4th, 6th, and 8th, but the wind is always onshore or cross-onshore. The 11th of September has raw, strong onshore wind at 21 mph and 3-foot waves – just a washing machine.
So, the only one to circle on the calendar is that Tuesday afternoon, September 1st, at Back Strands. The swell is a clean 4 feet from the WNW, and with the glassy wind, it’ll be the most fun you’ll have all fortnight. Everything else is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the W by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | WNW 7 | NNW 7 | W 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 6 | W 10 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WSW 7 | W 4 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 11 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 63 | 39 | 57 | 228 | 223 | 328 | 216 | 85 | 29 | 71 | 38 | 82 | 254 | 262 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | glassy | off | off | cross | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:58PM3.64m | 7:16AM3.23m | 7:29PM3.71m | 7:48AM3.29m | 8:00PM3.70m | 8:21AM3.29m | 8:33PM3.60m | 8:55AM3.23m | 9:10PM3.42m | 9:34AM3.12m | 9:51PM3.18m | 10:19AM2.95m | 10:42PM2.89m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:37PM0.29m | 1:09AM0.18m | 1:08PM0.20m | 1:39AM0.11m | 1:40PM0.18m | 2:10AM0.10m | 2:13PM0.22m | 2:42AM0.18m | 2:49PM0.33m | 3:17AM0.33m | 3:29PM0.50m | 3:57AM0.55m | 4:17PM0.73m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | 5 | — | 1 | 4 | 5 | — | 1 | 4 | 4 | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 17 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | — | — | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | NNW 8 | NW 12 | NNW 12 | NW 11 | W 10 |
| kJ | 11 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 63 | 39 | 32 | — | — | 328 | 216 | 85 | 29 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 262 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | — | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 7 | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | NW 9 | — | NW 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 53 | 21 | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 6 | NW 6 | — | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | WNW 6 | W 10 | W 8 | — | — | — | SSE 3 | WSW 7 | W 4 | WSW 7 | W 7 | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 57 | 228 | 223 | — | — | — | 5 | 71 | 38 | 82 | 254 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 313 | 439 | 77 | 77 | 400 | 184 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 540 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 53 | 53 | 0 | 265 | 268 |
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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