Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 02 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.6°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 2 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 3,824 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) 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 1.0m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Sun 6th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 9s
Best Surf 1AM (Sun 6th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 9s
Most Powerful 1PM (Fri 4th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s cookin’. The 16-day window’s got a bit of a slow start to be honest. There ain’t much worth paddlin’ out for until we get through the first few days, so we’re lookin’ at a quiet spell. But don’t get too down, there’s a couple of moments that’ll get the heart pumpin’ if you’re patient.

The only spot on the radar here is Back Strands. It’s a reef setup, fairly exposed, and the ideal swell direction is from the west. Water temp’s about average for the time of year, so nothin’ unusual there.

Alright, so the first couple of days are a write-off. Wednesday and Thursday of this week? Forget it. Small, weak swell, and the wind’s all over the shop. You’re lookin’ at waves in the 2 ft range with garbage energy – not worth the rubber.

Friday the 4th of September rolls in with a big pulse. Swell jumps to a solid 12 ft from the west, with a long period of 12-13 seconds, and the combined energy goes ballistic. That’s a strong, powerful groundswell. Problem is, it comes with a strong cross-onshore breeze making a royal mess. That’s proper expert-only territory, and even then, the wind’s gonna trash the surface. Not for the faint-hearted or the beginner.

Saturday the 5th of September is your best bet for the whole outlook. By the afternoon, the swell drops back to a more manageable 5 ft from the west-northwest, period around 10 seconds, and the combined energy is still decent. The wind goes light and cross-offshore, which means clean, tidy lines. That’s your standout session. The waves’ll have some shape, the crowd factor at Back Strands is listed as “sometimes” busy, but with these conditions, you might not be alone. Still, this is the one to aim for.

Sunday the 6th sees the swell drop right off into the 3 ft range with weak energy, nothin’ to get excited about. The rest of that week and into the next? It’s mostly a bust. Lots of onshore winds, lumpy conditions, and small, weak swell. A few days with swell around 5 ft to 7 ft come through Monday and Tuesday the 7th and 8th, but the onshore wind is relentless, making it a choppy, messy affair. Not good for surf, more of a kite-surfing kind of setup if ya ask me.

There’s a tiny flicker of hope on Sunday the 13th of September. The morning shows 3 ft from the west with a 10-second period, a gentle offshore wind, and clean conditions. Energy is moderate. It’s surfable, but ordinary, and definitely not a standout. After that, it’s back to small, weak, and uninspiring right to the end.

So bottom line: the first few days are a write-off. If you want the best wave, get out there for the Saturday the 5th of September afternoon session at Back Strands. That’s your winner. Everything else is either too messy, too small, or too windy for a good time.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Wed morning, strong winds from the WSW by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Sat morning, near gales from the W by Mon night).

Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
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
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
0.7
W
8
0.6
W
7
1.2
W
5
0.9
W
7
1.4
W
5
2
W
11
3.5
W
12
3.5
W
12
2.4
WNW
12
1.6
WNW
10
1.2
WNW
10
0.8
WNW
9
0.5
W
9
1.2
WSW
11
1.2
W
8
1.8
WSW
10
2
W
10
2.5
W
10
2.5
W
10
3
W
11
3
WNW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
57
40
85
76
90
915
3529
3447
1487
555
276
99
43
325
182
602
761
1129
1418
1885
2228
Wind (km/h)
20
SE
20
SW
30
WSW
20
SSW
35
WSW
40
WSW
45
W
40
W
25
W
15
SSW
20
S
20
SSE
35
SSE
30
SW
25
SW
30
SSW
45
WSW
45
WSW
50
WSW
55
WNW
40
NW
Wind State
off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
High Tide
9:51PM3.18m
10:19AM2.95m
10:42PM2.89m
11:18AM2.76m
11:53PM2.61m
12:40PM2.65m
1:30AM2.47m
2:18PM2.72m
3:09AM2.55m
3:39PM3.00m
4:20AM2.77m
4:39PM3.34m
Low Tide
3:29PM0.50m
3:57AM0.55m
4:17PM0.73m
4:47AM0.81m
5:22PM0.97m
5:58AM1.05m
7:02PM1.11m
7:40AM1.13m
8:53PM0.99m
9:13AM0.98m
10:09PM0.69m
10:16AM0.72m
11:03PM0.38m
mod rain
cloud
rain showers
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
thunderstorm
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:41
6:43
6:45
6:47
6:48
6:50
6:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:23
8:21
8:19
8:15
8:14
8:10
8:08
 mm
6
1
6
1
2
1
4
3
8
3
4
4
Temp °C
15
18
17
17
14
14
14
14
14
15
17
17
19
19
15
14
14
13
13
13
14
Feels °C
14
16
13
12
8
7
5
6
8
11
13
14
13
14
11
9
5
3
2
2
6
  • 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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