Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 05 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.5°C
2.0° 

Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Back Strands surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 11s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 3,575 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 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Sat 5th Sep)4.5ft (1.3m) 10s
Best Surf 7AM (Sat 12th Sep)6ft (1.8m) 11s
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

Alright, let’s get into it. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve had a look at what’s coming up for Back Strands. Gotta be straight with you—this one’s a bit of a mixed bag, and there’s a lot of waiting involved.

The overall pattern is pretty rough to start. For the first few days, we’ve got plenty of swell but the wind is just trashing it. Kite surfers might be loving the strong cross-shore winds and solid lines, but for a paddle surfer, it’s ugly out there. The combined swell energy is moderate to very strong early on, hitting 644 on Saturday the 5th and then ramping up to a massive 4433 by Tuesday the 8th, but it’s all blown out or messy. You’re looking at 13 ft of west swell on Tuesday the 8th morning, but with a near gale cross-onshore, you’d be mad to paddle out. That’s expert-only territory, and even then, it’s ugly.

The wind doesn’t really let up until the following weekend. There’s a gap of several days where it’s just not worth it—from Wednesday the 9th right through to Friday the 11th, it’s cross-on shore, choppy, and lumpy, with swell sizes bouncing around 3 ft to 7 ft. The combined energy drops a bit but stays moderate to strong, but the quality is poor. Not your window.

Now, the standout. It’s Saturday the 12th of September that finally gives us something to smile about. The morning session is the pick of the whole outlook. We’ve got a 6 ft west-northwest swell rolling in with a 11-second period—that’s a proper groundswell, with good energy between sets. The wind flips around to a light east-southeast breeze, coming cross-offshore, and the water is clean. The combined energy sits at 730 (moderate), but the conditions are described as “very good.” This is a reef break, and with that west-northwest direction matching the optimum plus that offshore wind, you’re looking at lined-up, clean waves. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so get there early for the uncrowded peak. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The afternoon of that same Saturday holds up okay too—still 5 ft and clean, but the energy drops a bit to 510. Still a solid option if you missed the morning.

After that, it fades. Sunday the 13th is small and weak, with a cross-shore wind that kills the shape. The rest of the second week is a mix of small surf and onshore winds, with a few brief moments of clean conditions but nothing over 5 ft until maybe Thursday the 17th, where we get a 5 ft west-northwest swell with a 11-second period and clean cross-offshore wind. The combined energy hits 581—moderate—but it’s only a marginal call, so don’t book your trip around it. The near gale offshore wind on Friday the 18th will make it hard to even paddle into the 3 ft waves.

So, to sum it up: if you’re keen, you wait for Saturday the 12th. That’s your best bet. The rest of the window is either too windy, too messy, or too small.

Stay safe, and I’ll see you out there.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat night, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the W by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, strong winds from the W by Wed night).

Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
WNW
10
1.3
WNW
10
0.9
WNW
9
0.6
W
8
0.6
W
9
1.4
W
7
1.9
W
10
2.5
W
11
3.5
W
11
3.5
WNW
12
3
WNW
11
1.9
WNW
10
1.3
WNW
9
1.1
WNW
8
0.7
WNW
8
1
W
8
1.2
W
11
1.6
W
6
2.2
W
8
2.2
WNW
9
1.7
WNW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
659
328
132
49
63
176
785
1567
2904
3179
1976
731
268
160
65
114
319
188
675
757
574
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
10
S
20
SSE
40
SSE
35
SSW
30
WSW
40
SW
40
WSW
45
WSW
45
W
40
WNW
30
NW
20
W
15
SSW
35
SE
35
W
35
W
35
WNW
35
WNW
30
WNW
15
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
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
6:36AM3.37m
6:48PM3.94m
Low Tide
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
12:26PM0.09m
1:01AM-0.11m
part cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
light rain
cloud
rain showers
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:47
6:48
6:50
6:52
6:54
6:56
6:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:15
8:14
8:10
8:08
8:06
8:04
8:00
 mm
1
2
2
4
2
2
2
1
10
1
2
2
1
2
Temp °C
15
16
18
18
18
15
15
15
13
14
14
14
14
15
15
16
15
14
14
14
14
Feels °C
11
14
14
11
14
10
7
6
4
5
6
8
11
12
10
10
9
7
7
8
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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