
Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 3,735 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you straight up – this 16-day window for Back Strands is a proper mixed bag, and honestly, it’s gonna take some patience. There’s a decent amount of swell on the table, but the wind is going to be the enemy most of the time.
We kick off with a bang, but it’s a messy one. Friday the 4th sees a solid 12ft west swell rolling in with a 12-second period and a massive combined energy of (4002), but that 28 mph cross-on wind from the west absolutely trashes it. It’s a write-off for a clean wave. That big energy hangs around into the weekend, but it’s all cross and onshore.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on Saturday afternoon, the 5th. The swell drops to a more manageable 4ft from the west-northwest, and we finally get a light, cross-off breeze from the south at 6 mph. The energy is moderate (328), and it’s looking clean. This is your first proper chance for a surf, but it’s not a standout.
Sunday the 6th is a write-off again with strong winds and tiny swell.
Now, keep your eye on Saturday the 12th of September. This is the standout window. The morning session is where you want to be. We’ve got a clean 5ft swell from the west-northwest, with a nice 11-second period (531 combined energy), and the wind is a glassy cross-off from the south-southwest at just 3 mph. It’ll be clean, lined up, and with that period, the reef at Back Strands should be working nicely. The afternoon will still have some small waves, but a light cross-on breeze will just take the shine off it.
After that, we get a few small, clean days but nothing with much punch. The 13th of September has clean 3ft waves with light offshore winds from the south-southeast, but it’s tiny. The 14th and 15th see some longer-period swells (13-14 seconds) but they’re small and plagued by onshore breezes again.
The last week of the forecast gets a bit more interesting energy-wise, but the wind stays nasty. Monday the 18th of September has a 8ft west swell with an 11-second period (1201 combined energy), but again, it’s cross-on and choppy. That pattern of size with poor wind hangs around until the very end of the window, with only marginal conditions on the 19th.
So, the call is simple: if you can only paddle out once this fortnight, make it Saturday morning, the 12th of September. That’s your cleanest, best-shaped chance. For the rest, you’ll be battling the breeze. Keep checking back; things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Fri morning, light winds from the S by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed night, min 12°C on Wed afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Mon night, light winds from the SW by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | SW 5 | W 15 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WSW 8 | W 5 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4002 | 3035 | 1946 | 644 | 328 | 132 | 49 | 70 | 1005 | 716 | 1334 | 2702 | 3597 | 3083 | 1113 | 442 | 213 | 68 | 71 | 109 | 461 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 5:57AM3.22m | 6:09PM3.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 11:47AM0.23m | 00:25AM-0.05m | ||||||||
6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — |
— | — | — | 644 | 328 | 132 | 49 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 213 | 68 | 22 | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | W 11 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 9 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | — | — | S 4 | S 4 | SW 5 | W 15 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | — | S 3 | WSW 8 | W 5 | W 9 |
4002 | 3035 | 1946 | — | — | 13 | 37 | 70 | 1005 | 716 | 1334 | 2702 | 3597 | 3083 | 1113 | 442 | — | 5 | 71 | 109 | 461 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 530 | 721 | 265 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 466 | 513 | 288 | 27 | 532 | 396 | 1029 | 722 | 260 | 23 | 13 | 13 | 284 | 532 | 727 |
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.










