Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 7 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period, W swell with 205 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with W 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period. 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 1.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Tue 7th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here with the scoop on Back Strands for the next couple weeks. First things first—this forecast starts slow, so don't get your hopes up early. From July 5 through July 7 it's all cross‑onshore junk, poor surf, no fun. Water's running about 61°F, which is a solid 4°F warmer than normal for this time of year—a nice bonus if you're heading in.
We finally get a lookable wave on Wednesday July 8 morning. Swell runs 3ft from the west, 9-second period, and a light cross-off breeze cleans it up. Combined energy is weak (133), so it's small and average—rideable but nothing special. Wind goes onshore by afternoon, so hit the dawn session. Thursday July 9 morning is similar: another 3ft, cross-off, clean, energy still weak (126). A few more of those marginal mornings show up July 13 and 14, but the swell is tiny (2ft) with a long-period groundswell (12 seconds on the 13th) that could wrap into this reef okay, though energy is low (113, 71).
Then we hit a flat stretch from July 15 to the 17th—swell drops to 1–2ft, glassy on a couple afternoons, but honestly not enough push to ride. Even glassy 1ft is barely a ripple.
Things start looking up by July 18. Saturday morning brings 3ft from the west, short period (6 seconds), but it's clean and energy climbs to 70—still marginal but better. Saturday afternoon gets glassy, swell bumps to 4ft, period 7 seconds, energy 107. Not epic, but you'll find a few.
Now the real standout—Sunday July 19. Mark that one. Morning shows 8ft from the west-northwest, 10-second period, with a slight cross-off breeze. Combined energy hits 1283—big, powerful stuff. Afternoon turns glassy with 7ft and energy 923. That's clean, decent period, and the direction is spot‑on for this reef. It'll be big enough to handle the crowd (and crowds do pop up here sometimes), but the quality looks very good. Just keep in mind: at 8ft it's expert territory—not for beginners.
Monday July 20 still has good leftovers: 6ft morning, 5ft afternoon, clean with light offshores, energy in the 400s. Solid follow-up.
So bottom line: the first week is mostly flat, a few tiny windows midweek, then the real swell hits July 19 and 20. That's your window—get on it.
Stay salty,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 175 | 156 | 182 | 136 | 165 | 205 | 185 | 157 | 133 | 133 | 130 | 126 | 123 | 74 | 34 | 170 | 163 | 146 | 106 | 73 | 50 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:12PM3.22m | 10:37AM2.66m | 10:53PM3.12m | 11:28AM2.61m | 11:42PM3.01m | 12:27PM2.59m | 00:41AM2.92m | 1:34PM2.63m | 1:52AM2.87m | 2:45PM2.75m | 3:06AM2.90m | 3:52PM2.96m | 4:17AM3.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:27AM0.69m | 4:20PM0.80m | 5:13AM0.73m | 5:10PM0.93m | 6:06AM0.77m | 6:13PM1.03m | 7:10AM0.79m | 7:30PM1.04m | 8:20AM0.76m | 8:50PM0.94m | 9:28AM0.66m | 10:02PM0.72m | 10:29AM0.52m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:13 |
 | — | 10:09 | — | — | 10:08 | — | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:06 | — | — | 10:05 | 10:04 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 20 |
Feels °C | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | 182 | 136 | 165 | 205 | 185 | 157 | 133 | 133 | 130 | 126 | 123 | 74 | 34 | 170 | 163 | 146 | 106 | 73 | 50 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | NE 2 | — |
| kJ | 175 | 156 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 283 | 15 | 27 | 27 | 22 | 27 | 283 | 10 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 17 | 117 | 243 | 48 | 522 | 494 | 17 | 12 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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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