Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 06 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 6 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, WNW swell with 1,696 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 8s 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 1PM. 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 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Thu 10th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 8s
Best Surf 1AM (Sat 12th Sep)3ft (0.9m) 13s
Most Powerful 1PM (Tue 8th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for this stretch of the West Coast surf.

First up, we’ve got Back Strands, a reef setup that’s fairly consistent and fairly exposed. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there.

The next 16 days are a real mixed bag, and honestly, it’s a tough run. The first week is pretty much a write-off. From Sunday the 6th through to the end of the week, the wind is just a mess – strong cross-offshores, then swinging cross-on, and even a raw onshore breeze. The swell is small to moderate, but the quality is shot. The combined swell energy is weak to moderate (49 to 1633), but that doesn’t matter when the wind is junk. Early on the 6th, we see a 2ft, 8-second W swell with 25 mph southerly cross-off winds, but it’s “poor surf conditions.” The afternoon tries to pick up with a 3ft, 10-second W swell, but the wind is still strong. Through Monday and Tuesday, the swell builds to 10ft from the WNW with a 10-second period, but the onshore winds are howling, making it a messy, blown-out mess. At 10ft, this is expert-only territory, and even then, it’s ugly.

The Standout

The one bright spot in this whole outlook is Thursday morning, September 16th, about a week and a half out. It’s only a “marginal” call, with a score of 1 out of 10, but compared to the rest, it’s the best on offer. We get a clean 4ft W swell, with a 10-second period, and a nice cross-offshore breeze from the south at 12 mph. The combined energy is moderate (328). The wave comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions,” so it’s not a guarantee, but that clean cross-off wind will make the most of what’s there. For a reef, a longer period like this (10s) is a good sign, giving the waves a bit more shape. Keep an eye on the tide.

The Rest

After that, the forecast gets messy again. The 17th has clean cross-off winds but the swell is a bit smaller and the period drops to 8-9 seconds, making it weaker. The 18th sees a light cross-on breeze, which butchers the clean lines. The 19th morning has another clean cross-off window with a 5ft, 10-second WNW swell, giving us moderate energy (392), but it’s another “marginal” call. The 20th and 21st are back to strong cross-on winds and lumpy, poor surf.

So, it’s a long, frustrating gap of a week or more with nothing really clean. The reality is, for this spot, the window is super narrow. If you’re looking to paddle, Thursday 16th morning is the only real chance to get a clean, rideable wave, and even then, keep your expectations tempered. The 19th morning is a backup but less reliable. For the rest of the time, it’s more of a kite-surfing show when the swell is up and the wind is cross-on.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Mainly strong winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Tue night, light winds from the WNW by Fri afternoon).

Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
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)
0.6
W
8
0.8
W
10
1.2
W
10
1.4
W
10
1.8
W
10
2.3
W
10
3
WNW
10
3
WNW
10
2.3
WNW
10
1.5
WNW
9
1.2
WNW
8
0.8
WNW
8
1
W
9
0.8
W
10
1.2
W
10
1.2
WNW
8
1.1
W
8
0.9
WNW
13
1.3
WNW
12
1
WNW
12
1.3
WNW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
49
122
302
356
600
1081
1633
1514
1044
359
185
77
148
121
273
183
157
307
437
283
407
Wind (km/h)
40
S
35
SSW
25
WSW
30
SW
40
WSW
35
SW
45
W
40
WNW
30
NW
20
WNW
20
WSW
15
S
20
S
15
W
30
WSW
20
WNW
15
WNW
15
SE
25
S
30
SW
15
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
off
cross-off
cross
cross
High Tide
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
7:12AM3.45m
7:25PM3.90m
Low Tide
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
1:03PM0.03m
1:34AM-0.07m
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:50
6:52
6:54
6:56
6:58
7:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:14
8:10
8:08
8:06
8:04
8:00
7:59
 mm
2
2
4
3
1
2
3
1
3
4
1
2
Temp °C
19
19
15
15
14
13
13
14
14
14
14
14
16
17
16
14
14
14
17
18
15
Feels °C
12
14
11
9
7
6
4
6
7
10
9
11
14
15
13
10
10
8
15
14
13
  • 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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