Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, WNW swell with 732 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 2.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.
Straight up, this forecast is a tough one. We’re looking at a long, quiet run with very little to get excited about. For the next week and a half, we’re staring down the barrel of a whole lot of nothing. From Thursday the 23rd of July all the way through to the morning of Monday the 27th, it’s a write-off – poor surf, onshore winds, and no quality on offer.
The first real flicker of hope comes on the morning of Monday the 27th. Back Strands will see the swell drop a little, but the wind swings to a cross-off from the SSW at just 9 mph. That will clean things right up. We’re looking at waves around 4 ft from the WNW with a moderate combined swell energy (276), but it's only rated as marginal. It’s not going to be pumping, but it’ll be the first sessionable option in days.
Stay patient though, because the real standout is shaping up for the afternoon of Thursday the 30th of July. The wind goes glassy—straight-up glassy—from the WNW at 3 mph. The swell is still small, around 3 ft from the WNW, with a 9-second period and a low combined swell energy (126). It’s small, it’s clean, and if you’re on a log or a funboard, you’ll be getting some of the most user-friendly waves of the whole 16-day window. Conditions like that are rare, and they won't last.
That little window of clean, glassy surf will carry over into the morning of Friday the 31st of July, too. Offshore winds from the SE at 9 mph, waves still around 3 ft from the WNW, with very low combined energy (75). It’s tiny, but it’s beautiful.
After that, it fades back to nothing. The wind picks up hard again, the swell disappears, and we’re left with poor, choppy, blown-out conditions right through to the end of the forecast on Friday the 7th of August. Kiteboarders might find some interest in those strong onshore days, but for a paddle surfer, this is the definition of a flat spell.
If you absolutely have to paddle, make the call for the 30th of July afternoon. It’s the cleanest the place is going to look for weeks.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Wed night, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | W 8 | WNW 11 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 12 | 24 | 165 | 147 | 228 | 567 | 596 | 573 | 732 | 657 | 461 | 276 | 185 | 169 | 162 | 165 | 225 | 111 | 133 | 190 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:52PM2.49m | 2:18AM2.43m | 3:06PM2.53m | 3:33AM2.43m | 4:11PM2.65m | 4:34AM2.52m | 5:02PM2.83m | 5:21AM2.66m | 5:44PM3.03m | 6:01AM2.79m | 6:22PM3.22m | 6:36AM2.90m | 6:56PM3.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:27AM1.11m | 8:06PM1.25m | 8:38AM1.15m | 9:25PM1.21m | 9:43AM1.09m | 10:27PM1.08m | 10:36AM0.96m | 11:14PM0.92m | 11:19AM0.79m | 11:55PM0.76m | 11:56AM0.63m | 00:32AM0.61m | 12:30PM0.48m | 1:06AM0.49m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:50 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:46 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:42 | — | — | 9:39 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 11 | W 9 | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — | — | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 |
| kJ | 6 | 5 | 24 | 165 | — | — | — | 596 | — | — | — | 461 | 276 | 185 | 169 | 162 | 165 | 225 | 111 | 133 | 190 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 10 | NW 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | 12 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 6 | — | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 9 | — | 147 | 228 | 567 | — | 573 | 732 | 657 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 127 | 860 | 53 | 1230 | 1224 | 268 | 265 | 265 | 127 | 127 | 396 | 36 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 135 | 145 | 22 | 53 | 205 | 27 |
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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