
Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, WNW swell with 477 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Friday (Jul 24) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s 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 1.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break this down in feet and miles per hour, because that’s how we feel it.
The 16-day outlook for Back Strands is a frustrating one. We’ve got a long stretch of flat, crappy conditions, then a pulse of bigger swell that gets blown out, and a tiny clean window right at the end.
From Sunday the 19th through to Friday the 24th, it’s a real drought. Swell heights are a measly 1 to 2 feet, with short periods and weak energy readings – we’re talking numbers like 14 to 50 (weak). The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, so the surface is choppy and useless. That’s a solid five-day gap of nothing.
The first real change comes on Friday the 24th, with the swell bumping up to 3 feet from the WNW, period 10 seconds, and the energy reading 166 (moderate). Still cross-on wind, so it’s not clean. Saturday the 25th morning is the biggest of the run: swell hits 5 feet from the WNW, period 11 seconds, and energy is a strong 452. That’s got some push. But the wind is a fresh cross-shore at 18 mph, with light rain. The report says “poor surf conditions,” and with that cross-chop, it’s going to be a bumpy, messy wave. For a reef, that’s a tough paddle. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than for a regular surf.
Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th keep the swell in the 4 to 7 feet range, but the wind is onshore from the NW. The energy jumps to 690 on Monday, which is strong, but it’s all windblown. For beginners, anything over 5 feet is getting heavy, and Monday’s 7 feet is strictly for the experts. The period is 9-10 seconds, so it’s not a classic long-period groundswell.
The best session might be the very end. Friday the 31st of July, afternoon. The swell drops to 2 feet from the W, period 8 seconds, energy only 72 (weak). But the wind turns light cross-offshore from the SSW, and the report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions” – clean, but tiny. That’s as good as it gets.
Back Strands is a reef break that’s fairly consistent, and you might see a crowd sometimes. The water temperature first thing Sunday is 64°F, which is a massive 5°F above the average – that’s very unusual, much warmer than normal for July.
So, a lot of waiting, a lot of wind, and only a couple of almost-windows. The 25th has the power but no clean wind. The 31st has the clean wind but no power. That’s the tough call.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 7 | NW 7 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | NW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | 22 | 21 | 35 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 166 | 129 | 423 | 452 | 408 | 370 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | on |
High Tide | 10:10AM2.95m | 10:28PM3.45m | 10:57AM2.80m | 11:14PM3.14m | 11:47AM2.65m | 00:05AM2.82m | 12:44PM2.54m | 1:06AM2.57m | 1:52PM2.49m | 2:18AM2.43m | 3:06PM2.53m | 3:33AM2.43m | 4:11PM2.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:55PM0.49m | 4:45AM0.52m | 4:43PM0.73m | 5:31AM0.76m | 5:37PM0.97m | 6:24AM0.96m | 6:44PM1.16m | 7:27AM1.11m | 8:06PM1.25m | 8:38AM1.15m | 9:25PM1.21m | 9:43AM1.09m | 10:27PM1.08m | ||||||||
5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:51 | — | — | 9:50 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:46 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 6 | 2 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | W 9 | NW 6 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 10 | NW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
23 | 6 | 10 | 35 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 166 | 31 | 423 | 452 | 408 | 370 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 12 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 6 | — | — | NW 6 | — | — | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 11 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 6 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
12 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 7 | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 4 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 3 | NW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — |
— | 22 | — | 12 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 14 | — | 129 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 243 | 323 | 19 | 276 | 1260 | 19 | 231 | 1266 | 231 | 336 | 512 | 231 | 457 | 127 | 19 | 22 | 759 | 51 | 22 | 127 | 422 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










