
Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 22 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 16s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, WNW swell with 5,973 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 20 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 12s 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 (Sep 20) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 12s 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 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) 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 1.2m 5s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Tue 22nd Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Back Strands for the next couple of weeks. It’s a rough start, no two ways about it. Wednesday and Thursday we’ve got some serious size—up to 13 feet Thursday afternoon—but the wind is blowing strong cross-onshore and it’s just messy, lumpy chaos. Water temp is about 60°F, which is a touch warmer than normal, nothing wild.
Thursday’s got the most energy of the whole stretch, with the combined swell energy sitting at 5105, but it’s useless with that wind. That’s a blown-out, dangerous mess—over 8 feet, and only for experts anyway, but with that chop, it’s a hard pass.
Friday morning drops to about 8 feet at 13 seconds, and we get a slight cross-offshore, but it’s still marginal, with tide issues and the afternoon turning back into cross-shore slop. Saturday is more lumpy cross-onshore junk. We’re wasting some decent swell on bad wind.
Then Sunday the 20th, things start to turn. We get a light cross-offshore breeze and a clean 7 feet at 12 seconds. Energy is 1001—moderate but clean. That’s a proper surfable day, and the swell direction is from the WNW. Sunday afternoon backs off to about 6 feet, still clean. Monday the 21st is smaller—around 5 feet at 11 seconds—but clean with light winds. Good small-wave day.
Now, Tuesday the 22nd is the one. Morning has 5 feet at a very long 16 seconds with a slight offshore breeze. But the afternoon is the real gem—glassy, 7 feet at 15 seconds, energy at 1963. That’s clean, powerful groundswell with zero wind. For experienced surfers, this is the best of the run. The long period means better shape, but at a beach break, it might be a bit straight, so pick your spot.
Wednesday the 23rd drops off to about 5 feet at 13 seconds, clean but nothing special. Thursday the 24th is down to around 4 feet, ordinary.
Then Friday the 25th gives us a second pulse—offshore winds, clean, and we jump back up to 5 to 6 feet at 15–16 seconds. Energy is 1134. It’s promising, but not quite as big or clean as Tuesday. Still, a solid day if you missed the first one.
From there, it fades fast. Saturday the 26th has about 4 feet at 13 seconds, glassy in the afternoon. Then Sunday the 27th onward, it just drains. By Monday and Tuesday, we’re down to around 2 feet, and the energy numbers are in the double digits—80s, 70s, 30s. Weak. Wednesday the 30th and Thursday the 1st are basically flat, with a few knee-high ripples. The last day is glassy but only 2 feet—not worth the paddle.
So here’s the deal: the first few days are a write-off, don’t waste your time. The standout is Tuesday the 22nd—that’s the clean, powerful day you want to be out for. Friday the 25th is the second-best, with good offshore wind and solid groundswell. After that, it slowly dies. Crowds on Back Strands are only sometimes a problem, so on the good days you’ll have some room.
For beginners, Tuesday’s 7 feet is over the limit—too big. Friday’s 5 to 6 feet is borderline. If you’re learning, wait until Saturday morning when it’s still clean and around 4 feet.
That’s the long and short of it. Not a perfect run, but there are a couple of magic windows if you’re patient. Keep an eye on that Tuesday forecast.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Fri morning). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the W on Wed morning, strong winds from the W by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat morning, calm by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 11 | WNW 13 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | W 12 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 12 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
657 | 434 | 676 | 2767 | 5105 | 4496 | 2008 | 2035 | 1137 | 1152 | 1379 | 1462 | 1001 | 741 | 723 | 407 | 320 | 472 | 1234 | 1963 | 1403 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross |
High Tide | 9:44PM2.87m | 10:03AM2.85m | 10:23PM2.55m | 10:49AM2.61m | 11:18PM2.28m | 12:00PM2.41m | 00:50AM2.11m | 1:47PM2.37m | 2:42AM2.15m | 3:16PM2.54m | 3:52AM2.34m | 4:09PM2.80m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 3:27PM0.65m | 3:40AM0.79m | 4:07PM0.93m | 4:17AM1.07m | 5:00PM1.22m | 5:11AM1.31m | 6:32PM1.42m | 6:54AM1.45m | 8:43PM1.39m | 8:47AM1.35m | 9:52PM1.17m | 9:48AM1.13m | 10:34PM0.91m | ||||||||
7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | |
— | 7:49 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:34 | — | |
mm | — | — | 6 | 2 | — | 1 | 12 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | WNW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | W 12 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 12 | W 16 | W 15 | W 14 |
657 | 434 | — | — | — | — | 2008 | — | — | — | — | — | 1001 | 741 | 723 | 407 | 320 | 472 | 1234 | 1963 | 1403 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 20 | W 11 | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 348 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 9 | W 11 | WNW 13 | WNW 14 | SSW 4 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 12 | — | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 676 | 2767 | 5105 | 4496 | 21 | 2035 | 1137 | 1152 | 1379 | 1462 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 400 | 145 | 456 | 457 | 727 | 265 | 129 | 127 | 265 | 265 | 265 | 27 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
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.










