Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s period, W swell with 36 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Strands this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 0.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, I’m looking at this and it’s a pretty grim stretch for Back Strands. This is a reef set-up, fairly exposed to the west, but for the first twelve days we’re just not getting any real push. The swell is tiny, mostly around 0.7 ft to 1 ft, with a combined energy that rarely gets above 40 (weak). The wind is generally cross-offshore from the east, which is clean, but with waves that small, there’s nothing to ride. It’s a long, flat spell.
There’s a bit of a tease on the morning of Thursday the 24th. We finally see a pulse of swell push up to 3 ft from the WNW, with a period of 10 seconds and a combined energy of 180 (moderate). The wind is glassy calm, so the conditions would be clean. But it’s only a 3 ft wave, and the consistency is still lacking. For a more experienced surfer, it might be a fun little session on a longboard, but it’s nothing to get excited about. The afternoon sees a shift to onshore wind and rain showers, so that window is tight.
Other than that one morning, the rest of the outlook is a write-off. The swell barely reaches 3 ft again, and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. The combined energy stays weak, and the scores are all zero. There’s a brief moment of glassy conditions on the 23rd, but with only 2 ft of swell, it’s not doing anything.
So, the only standout, if you can call it that, is the morning of Thursday the 24th at Back Strands. It’s the best of a bad bunch. But don’t expect much. This is a long stretch of flat and poor conditions. It’s the kind of period where you’d be better off checking the forecast again in a few days, because it can’t stay this bad forever.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 21 | WNW 7 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 22 | 18 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 23 | 36 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 13 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:17AM3.01m | 4:53PM3.22m | 5:20AM3.15m | 5:48PM3.50m | 6:16AM3.26m | 6:39PM3.74m | 7:07AM3.31m | 7:27PM3.91m | 7:54AM3.29m | 8:14PM3.97m | 8:40AM3.22m | 8:59PM3.91m | 9:25AM3.10m | 9:43PM3.72m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:29AM0.52m | 11:05PM0.47m | 11:23AM0.36m | 00:01AM0.23m | 12:13PM0.21m | 00:53AM0.06m | 12:59PM0.12m | 1:43AM-0.02m | 1:43PM0.09m | 2:30AM0.00m | 2:27PM0.15m | 3:15AM0.12m | 3:10PM0.28m | 4:00AM0.30m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 10:04 | — | — | 10:02 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:59 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:57 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 24 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 13 |
| kJ | 22 | 18 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 23 | 36 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 13 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 21 | W 14 | W 13 | W 7 | — | W 18 | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 14 | W 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 9 | 4 | 14 | 4 | — | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 20 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 3 | E 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 33 | 424 | 313 | 117 | 7 | 7 | 17 | 32 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 276 | 278 | 119 | 119 | 737 | 316 | 316 | 1145 | 77 |
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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