Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, W swell with 1,146 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with W 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m 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 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's get into it.
Look, I'm gonna be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag. We're looking at a long stretch of small, weak waves that are mostly just gonna be a frustrating tease. The real action, if you can call it that, only shows up on the horizon way out there.
The first real pulse of swell we see worth talking about is on the morning of Friday the 4th of September. The wind is set to be light and offshore from the SSE, so the conditions should be clean. Back Strands will be pulling in a 4ft swell from the WNW with a long period of 11 seconds. There's a solid 400 (moderate wave energy) behind it.
But honestly, that's about it for the standout. The rest of the time, the swell is tiny, the energy is weak, and the wind is mostly wrong. For a stretch there, from the 26th of August right through the 3rd of September, it's a dead zone. Nothing but small, poor surf. You'll see a few pulses of energy, like on the afternoon of the 31st of August when the swell hits 4ft and the energy hits 246 (moderate), but it's coming with a cross-shore wind from the WSW that's gonna chop it up.
Then again on the 1st of September, the morning swell bumps up to 5ft from the W with a solid 515 (strong wave energy), but the wind is onshore from the NNW. That's blown-out territory. The surf will be there, but it won't be pretty.
The 7th of September brings a 5ft swell from the WNW, but it's too big for beginners and the wind is onshore. That one is for the experts only, and even then, the conditions are marginal.
So, for the best bet, you're looking at that Friday the 4th of September morning session. The swell (4ft) is a good size, the period is long (11 seconds), and the offshore wind will make it clean. It's a reef break, so it should handle that long-period energy well. Just keep in mind it's a long way out, so the forecast is a bit less certain.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the WSW by Mon afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 6 | W 10 | W 7 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 10 | 67 | 60 | 40 | 22 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 42 | 23 | 62 | 230 | 539 | 304 | 167 | 77 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on | cross | cross | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 5:57PM3.30m | 6:13AM2.97m | 6:28PM3.50m | 6:45AM3.12m | 6:58PM3.64m | 7:16AM3.23m | 7:29PM3.71m | 7:48AM3.29m | 8:00PM3.70m | 8:21AM3.29m | 8:33PM3.60m | 8:55AM3.23m | 9:10PM3.42m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:09AM0.50m | 12:06PM0.43m | 00:40AM0.32m | 12:37PM0.29m | 1:09AM0.18m | 1:08PM0.20m | 1:39AM0.11m | 1:40PM0.18m | 2:10AM0.10m | 2:13PM0.22m | 2:42AM0.18m | 2:49PM0.33m | 3:17AM0.33m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | 8:40 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:25 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | 1 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 19 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | NW 7 | — | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 10 | 67 | 60 | 40 | 22 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 42 | 23 | 31 | 16 | — | 304 | 167 | 77 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | NNW 8 | W 11 | — | — | — | NW 10 | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 9 | — | — | — | 211 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 6 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 5 | NW 6 | — | — | NW 2 | — | — | — | NW 4 | WNW 6 | W 10 | W 7 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 11 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 11 | 62 | 230 | 539 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 77 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 36 | 269 | 268 | 77 | 268 | 422 | 36 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 27 | 127 | 263 | 265 | 117 | 0 |
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.
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