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Surf Forecasts:

Back Strands surfForecast / Sligo / Ireland

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Tuesday 13 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
8.4° C
 (Which is 1.3°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 Thursday (Jan 15) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 17s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 12 days are 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jan 15) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jan 14) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Thu 15th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 17s
Best Surf 6PM (Thu 15th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 17s
Most Powerful12PM (Thu 15th Jan)11ft (3.5m) 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 Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Tue morning, min 3°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Wed morning, light winds from the S by Thu morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Mild temperatures (max 6°C on Fri afternoon, min 3°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
4
5
3
3
4
2
1
1
1
1
0
3
4
3
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.4
WNW
1.5
WNW
1.5
WNW
0.8
NW
0.7
W
1.3
W
3.5
W
3.5
W
3
W
2.5
W
3
W
2.1
W
1.6
W
1.4
W
1.1
W
0.9
W
0.8
W
0.6
W
1.1
WNW
2.1
W
2.1
W
Period(s) (?)1181010101218171615161413121110109161514
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)466267492132894646711641045062982376017848265562841641256367719101633
Wind
(km/h)
30
WNW
25
WNW
20
SW
35
S
40
S
20
SW
15
S
15
SSE
20
SE
20
ESE
20
E
15
E
20
E
20
E
15
ESE
10
ESE
5
SSE
10
SE
20
ESE
15
ESE
15
ESE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
ononcrosscross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
off		cross-
off		offcross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		glassoffoffoffcross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
1:45PM
2.44
2:35AM
2.53
2:55PM
2.48
3:32AM
2.69
3:50PM
2.59
4:19AM
2.88
4:35PM
2.73
4:59AM
3.08
5:13PM
2.86
5:35AM
3.27
5:48PM
2.96
6:09AM
3.43
6:22PM
3.03
Low Tide
/ height (m)
8:08PM
1.12
8:48AM
1.20
9:06PM
1.03
9:44AM
1.05
9:54PM
0.88
10:28AM
0.87
10:34PM
0.72
11:08AM
0.71
11:10PM
0.55
11:44AM
0.56
11:44PM
0.41
12:18PM
0.45
12:16AM
0.32
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Sunrise8:48--8:48--8:47--8:45--8:45--8:44--8:41--
Sunset-4:36--4:37--4:38--4:40--4:43--4:44--4:45-
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
Rain (mm)
---244--------------1
Temp. °C887587565565666665677
Feels °C (?)001-332010011111341133
  • 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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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

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

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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