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Surf Forecasts:

Back Strands surfForecast / Sligo / Ireland

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Thursday 08 Jan 2026 IST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
8.7° C
 (Which is 1.2°C colder than average for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Strands this week:

The surf forecast for Back Strands over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jan 13) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 12 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jan 15) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Jan 11) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 13th Jan)5.5ft (1.7m) 11s
Best Surf 3PM (Thu 15th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 17s
Most Powerful 3PM (Thu 15th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun afternoon, min 6°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Thu night, near gales from the SSE by Sat night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 10°C on Sun night, min 4°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Sun night, calm by Tue morning).

Friday
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thu
15
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
0
0
0
1
0
4
5
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.6
W
1.6
WNW
1.6
W
3.5
W
2.5
WNW
1.8
WNW
1.1
WNW
1.2
W
1.3
W
1.8
W
2
W
1.7
W
1.7
W
1.6
NW
1.4
NW
1.6
WNW
1.4
WNW
1.2
WNW
0.6
NW
1.3
W
3
W
Period(s) (?)121212131211101212121211111212121111101817
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)7996927233748172880725039348594211326886888245516695133116511245183
Wind
(km/h)
5
N
20
NW
15
WNW
35
WNW
20
NW
15
S
45
SSE
45
S
45
SSE
55
SSW
40
SSW
35
SW
15
SSW
10
E
40
NNW
30
NW
25
SW
20
SSW
20
SSW
15
S
10
SE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		oncross-
on		cross-
on		oncross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		offcross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
off		cross-
off		ononcrosscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		off
High Tide
/ height (m)
9:29PM
2.76
9:47AM
3.28
10:17PM
2.61
10:33AM
2.99
11:10PM
2.49
11:26AM
2.72
12:13AM
2.42
12:31PM
2.52
1:25AM
2.43
1:45PM
2.44
2:35AM
2.53
2:55PM
2.48
3:32AM
2.69
3:50PM
2.59
Low Tide
/ height (m)
3:11AM
0.66
4:06PM
0.70
3:59AM
0.90
4:56PM
0.90
4:57AM
1.12
5:53PM
1.05
6:11AM
1.27
7:00PM
1.14
7:35AM
1.30
8:08PM
1.12
8:48AM
1.20
9:06PM
1.03
9:44AM
1.05
Friday
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thu
15
Sunrise-8:52--8:51--8:49--8:48--8:48--8:48--8:47-
Sunset--4:29--4:30--4:31--4:34--4:36--4:37--4:38
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
3315--5171-2--51323--
Temp. °C677887910121099775758866
Feels °C (?)122-122-144-21124-40-1-1233
  • 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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Latest Updates

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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Back Strands surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Back Strands at:
surf-forecast.com

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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 12 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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