Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, WNW swell with 495 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 1.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the long-range outlook for Back Strands, this reef setup over here.
The water temp is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. We’ve got a bit of a nothing stretch to kick things off though.
Wednesday the 19th into the weekend sees rain showers, clouds, and cross-onshore winds. Swell is tiny, energy is weak (17-489), and honestly, it’s poor surf conditions. That stretch runs from Wednesday afternoon all the way through Sunday the 23rd. A few days of flatness and onshore chop.
We start to see a glimmer Monday morning, August 24. The wind goes cross-offshore from the ESE, swell picks up to 4ft from the WNW, period 11 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 285. It’s clean – expect good surf conditions. The afternoon stays clean with a gentle offshore, but the swell drops to 3ft. That’s your first real window, and it’s the best of the early run.
From Tuesday 25th through to Thursday 27th morning, it’s small again – 1ft to 3ft from the west, with mostly clean conditions but not much juice.
Then Thursday afternoon, August 27, things get interesting. The wind goes glassy, the swell bumps to 7ft from the WNW, period 7 seconds, energy hits 456. That’s a solid, punchy set – clean, glassy conditions. That’s the standout of the whole outlook. The swell direction is straight from the west-northwest, which is a good match for Back Strands’ optimum west swell.
After that, Friday 28th into the weekend, the wind turns onshore again, size drops, and the quality goes. We’re back to poor surf through Sunday the 30th.
Monday 31st and Tuesday September 1st see a bit more size – 4ft to 5ft – but the wind is messy cross-onshore, so it’s choppy. Not worth paddling into.
Then Wednesday September 2nd morning: clean again with cross-offshore wind from the south, swell 5ft from the west, period 9 seconds, energy 445. That’s another good window – expect good surf conditions. The afternoon holds with 5ft and light cross-offshore breeze.
Thursday September 3rd has clean conditions but the swell drops to 4ft and the wind picks up fresh offshore, so it’s clean but smaller.
Bottom line: Monday the 24th and Thursday the 27th are your best bets. The 27th is the standout with glassy conditions and 7ft of west-northwest swell. The second week has a couple of clean windows, but nothing that matches that Thursday.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Thu morning, light winds from the NNW by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the ESE by Tue morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 489 | 445 | 269 | 90 | 120 | 67 | 45 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 65 | 285 | 227 | 154 | 117 | 61 | 23 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:11PM2.67m | 11:41AM2.56m | 00:08AM2.39m | 12:52PM2.41m | 1:34AM2.22m | 2:28PM2.40m | 3:12AM2.25m | 3:50PM2.56m | 4:19AM2.41m | 4:44PM2.80m | 5:04AM2.60m | 5:23PM3.06m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:48PM0.95m | 5:14AM1.05m | 5:46PM1.21m | 6:15AM1.27m | 7:18PM1.37m | 7:50AM1.36m | 9:06PM1.34m | 9:21AM1.26m | 10:15PM1.16m | 10:19AM1.06m | 11:01PM0.94m | 11:00AM0.83m | 11:37PM0.71m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — |
mm | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 9 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 | — | — | W 8 | WNW 7 | W 8 | W 9 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 |
| kJ | 489 | 445 | 148 | 90 | — | — | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 65 | 285 | 227 | 154 | 117 | 61 | 23 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 10 | — | — | WNW 12 | — | NW 10 | NW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 2 | — | — | 14 | — | 4 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNW 10 | NNW 4 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | E 2 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 |
| kJ | — | — | 269 | 33 | 120 | 67 | 45 | 13 | 11 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 145 | 1063 | 396 | 721 | 203 | 313 | 313 | 158 | 117 | 276 | 81 | 7 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 181 | 205 | 184 |
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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