Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period, WNW swell with 44 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 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, let's see what we've got. I'm looking at Back Strands, and to be straight with you, it's a tough stretch ahead. There's not much love in the water for a while, but hang in there because the story changes by the end of the month.
We kick things off on Monday the 13th and right through the week, it’s just tiny. We're talking ankle-biters of 0.7 ft to 1 ft from the west, with the swell energy barely registering (14 to 37). The wind is mostly a cross-off from the east, keeping things clean, but there's no push. Wednesday the 15th is the worst of it, with the combined energy dropping to just 8. This flat spell runs for a good ten days. There’s a slight bump in energy on Sunday the 19th, with a 1 ft swell and a period stretching to 12 seconds, but it's still too weak to get excited about.
Now, the real talking point comes on Saturday the 26th of July. The westerly swell finally kicks up to 4 ft, hitting moderate energy levels (180). But there's a catch – the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-shore from the southwest, making it lumpy and choppy. That's more of a kite-surfing deal than good paddle surfing.
However, look at Monday the 27th. We get a solid 5 ft swell from the west. The energy jumps to 146, which is moderate, and the wind swings around to a fresh 19 mph cross-off from the south, cleaning it right up. That’s the one day that stands out as a genuine option for a surf.
The big news hits on Tuesday the 28th of July. There’s a proper 6 ft swell from the west-northwest, with a long period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is a whopping 921, which is strong. That’s a serious amount of water moving for a reef break. But the downside is a moderate cross-onshore wind from the west-northwest at 16 mph, making it choppy. This is big for Back Strands; at 6 ft, it’s pushing into expert territory, especially with that onshore wind messing with it. That’s your best bet, but it’s a raw, powerful day.
So, to sum it up: don't bother for the first week and a half. The standouts are Monday the 27th for a clean, solid session, and Tuesday the 28th for a big, powerful, but messy swell. Keep your eyes on the forecasts around that second week because it could clean up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 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 10 | W 8 | NW 6 | W 15 | NW 7 | W 12 | WNW 12 | W 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 10 | 14 | 23 | 36 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 21 | 24 | 44 | 37 |
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 | on | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 10:10AM2.95m | 10:28PM3.45m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:55PM0.49m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 10:02 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:59 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:57 | — | — | 9:55 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 23 | 19 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 19 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | 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 10 | NW 4 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 13 | NW 6 | WNW 12 | W 11 |
| kJ | 10 | 10 | 23 | 36 | 31 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 14 | 9 | 44 | 37 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 13 | WNW 7 | — | W 18 | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 12 | — | NW 6 |
| kJ | 4 | 14 | 5 | — | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | — | 1 | 1 | 24 | — | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 20 | WNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 9 | — | W 15 | W 10 | W 9 | — | N 8 |
| kJ | — | 7 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 4 | 2 | 7 | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 2 | E 2 | E 2 | E 2 | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | — | NW 6 | NW 3 | NW 7 | — | NW 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 8 | 5 | 21 | — | 9 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 313 | 117 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 32 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 117 | 292 | 746 | 117 | 231 | 494 | 104 | 19 | 104 | 19 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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