
Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period, WNW swell with 84 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Strands this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 0.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at Back Strands over the next couple of weeks.
First up, I gotta be straight with ya—it’s gonna be a real quiet spell for a while. The water’s sitting at about 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only thing that’s buzzing. We’re looking at tiny dribble for days on end. From this Saturday the 11th right through until nearly the end of the week starting the 20th, there’s barely a ripple worth paddling for. The swell is tiny—mostly 0.7ft to 1ft—and the wind’s all over the shop. A few mornings are clean with cross-off breezes, but there’s just no energy in the water to work with. Combined swell energy readings are down in the single digits or barely scraping double digits, which tells you it’s flat out weak.
Now, there’s a little glimmer on Tuesday the 21st in the morning. Swell bumps up to 3ft from the west, with a period of 8 seconds, and the energy jumps to 113—that’s moderate. The wind is light out of the SSE, so it’s clean. The waves are surfable but nothing to write home about. It’s still ordinary, but it’s the first thing we’ve seen in a while. That afternoon though, things get messy quick—swell jumps to 6ft but with onshore wind, so it’s a choppy mess.
By Wednesday the 22nd, the swell sticks around in the 4ft to 5ft range out of the west, period around 8 seconds, energy in the 200s. But the wind’s cross-onshore and it’s choppy. Not exactly a day to clear the calendar. Thursday the 23rd is similar—3ft to 4ft, same direction, cross-onshore wind again.
Friday the 24th morning shapes up a bit cleaner with light east winds, but the swell’s dropped back to 2ft. Okay for a cruise but not a standout.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday morning the 25th brings a pulse of 6ft swell from the west-northwest, period just 6 seconds—so it’s short period windswell. Combined energy hits 222, which is moderate. The wind is light from the SSW, so it’s clean. This is the best looking window in the whole run. But that swell size at 6ft is getting big for beginners, and the short period means it’ll be a bit lumpy and fat at a beach break. For the experienced crew though, it’s the one to circle. Saturday afternoon looks like it gets blown out with westerly winds again.
After that, Sunday the 26th drops off fast—3ft and messy cross-shore winds, energy falling back under 100. The window closes.
So overall, if you’re hanging for a wave, you’re gonna be waitin’ until the 21st at the earliest for anything rideable. The standout window is that Saturday morning the 25th with clean conditions and a bit of push—just keep an eye on that short period. The rest of the run is a whole lot of nothin’. But hey, forecasts change, and it’s a consistent spot, so it won’t stay flat forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 16°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 21 | WNW 7 | W 13 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
110 | 82 | 59 | 22 | 18 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 23 | 20 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 16 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:52PM2.96m | 4:17AM3.01m | 4:53PM3.22m | 5:20AM3.15m | 5:48PM3.50m | 6:16AM3.26m | 6:39PM3.74m | 7:07AM3.31m | 7:27PM3.91m | 7:54AM3.29m | 8:14PM3.97m | 8:40AM3.22m | 8:59PM3.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:02PM0.72m | 10:29AM0.52m | 11:05PM0.47m | 11:23AM0.36m | 00:01AM0.23m | 12:13PM0.21m | 00:53AM0.06m | 12:59PM0.12m | 1:43AM-0.02m | 1:43PM0.09m | 2:30AM0.00m | 2:27PM0.15m | 3:15AM0.12m | ||||||||
5:11 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 10:05 | — | — | 10:04 | — | — | 10:02 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:59 | — | — | 9:58 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 |
110 | 82 | 59 | 22 | 18 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 23 | 20 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 16 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 21 | W 14 | W 13 | W 7 | WNW 9 | W 18 | — | W 11 | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 9 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 15 | 6 | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 20 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 2 | E 2 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NW 5 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 13 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 178 | 12 | 32 | 46 | 424 | 292 | 117 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 46 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 316 | 117 | 37 | 534 | 77 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










