Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, WNW swell with 1,245 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 9 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s 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 Sunday (Aug 09) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s 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 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 9th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 5th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. The next 16 days are looking pretty bleak for this region. We’ve got a long stretch of mostly poor conditions, so you’ll want to pick your moments carefully. The water is sitting at 61°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a small comfort.
The first real chance of anything surfable comes on Saturday morning, August 8th, at Back Strands. We’re looking at a 5ft swell from the west with a 9-second period. The combined energy is moderate (380). The wind is cross-offshore from the SSW at 12 mph, which should keep the surface clean. It’s a marginal call, and the reef here can be tricky with that long period, but it’s the best we’ve got to start. Expect crowds at times.
Then Sunday, August 9th, is another one to keep an eye on. Both morning and afternoon offer up 5ft swell from the west-northwest, again with that 9-second period. The combined energy is still in the moderate range (383 and 360). The morning has a very light cross-on breeze from the WSW at 3 mph, making for near-glassy conditions. The afternoon goes clear with a light onshore breeze from the NW at 6 mph. Still marginal, but it’s the closest we get to a standout. The swell direction is west-northwest, which is off the optimum west-southwest, so the waves might not be firing perfectly, but it’s the cleanest window in the whole run.
After that, we drop right off. From Monday, August 10th, through to the end of the forecast on August 18th, the swell drops to tiny, inconsistent, and often messy. The combined energy weakens to single digits and low double digits, with wind constantly onshore or cross-shore. There’s a lot of nothing with a few days where the waves are basically flat. The setup starts looking more like a kite surfing session than a paddle one, especially with that strong cross-on breeze. The only half-decent pulse comes back on Monday, August 17th, with a 4-4ft swell from the west, but it’s a short 7-second period and cross-on wind, making it choppy and messy. Not worth getting excited about.
So, the best on offer is the Saturday and Sunday of August 8th and 9th. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s the only time the conditions come together. After that, it’s a long wait.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Tue morning, strong winds from the WNW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | NNW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 7 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 249 | 764 | 1245 | 272 | 66 | 27 | 30 | 60 | 277 | 489 | 380 | 404 | 240 | 383 | 360 | 232 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:38PM3.38m | 10:04AM2.91m | 10:18PM3.21m | 10:49AM2.80m | 11:06PM3.01m | 11:45AM2.69m | 00:08AM2.80m | 12:58PM2.63m | 1:30AM2.67m | 2:23PM2.69m | 3:01AM2.68m | 3:43PM2.92m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:50AM0.46m | 3:52PM0.63m | 4:31AM0.58m | 4:39PM0.80m | 5:21AM0.75m | 5:39PM0.97m | 6:27AM0.90m | 7:03PM1.08m | 7:52AM0.97m | 8:42PM1.01m | 9:16AM0.88m | 10:04PM0.77m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:19 |
mm | — | 5 | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 19 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 6 | NNW 8 | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 7 | — | W 10 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 7 | 2 | 6 | 12 | — | — | — | — | 66 | 7 | 16 | 60 | — | 489 | 380 | — | — | — | — | 232 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 9 | W 9 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | W 7 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 1 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 2 | — | — | WNW 2 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | — | WNW 6 | W 6 | SW 3 | W 8 | SW 4 | SW 4 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | 1 | 249 | 764 | 1245 | 272 | — | 27 | 30 | 6 | 277 | 12 | 13 | 404 | 240 | 383 | 360 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 38 | 33 | 33 | 104 | 104 | 243 | 513 | 400 | 268 | 416 | 22 | 127 | 145 | 22 | 12 | 27 | 27 | 7 | 19 | 0 |
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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