
Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period, NW swell with 39 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 0.6m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let’s talk Back Strands. It’s a reef break that’s fairly exposed and wants a west swell to work. But we’re looking at a long stretch of flat, windy junk before anything worthwhile shows up.
Right now, from Thursday the 16th, the swell is tiny – 0.7ft to 1.0ft – and the wind is all over the shop. Thursday morning is glassy with a light east-northeast breeze, but the combined energy is only 8, so it’s basically a lake. Then the wind switches northwest and picks up, making it onshore and choppy through Friday and Saturday. Swell stays tiny, periods are short (4 to 8 seconds). Not worth getting wet.
Sunday the 19th morning goes glassy again with a 1ft northwest swell, but the period is just 6 seconds and energy is 33. Clean but hopelessly small. That pattern of weak, tiny swell mixed with onshore or cross-onshore wind holds all the way to the 23rd.
Now, Friday the 24th brings a pulse: combined energy jumps to 236 (moderate) with a 3ft west-northwest swell at 10 seconds. But the wind is a moderate cross-onshore from the west-southwest, so it’ll be choppy and messy. Same story Saturday the 25th: 3ft to 3ft, energy around 128 to 147, but cross-onshore wind and light rain ruin the surface.
The standout window is Monday the 27th. Morning brings a 3ft west-northwest swell with a 9-second period and a clean offshore breeze from the east-southeast. Energy is moderate at 111. It’s surfable and clean – the best we’ll see. That afternoon it goes glassy with a 2ft swell from the same direction. Water temp is 17°C (about 63°F), which is much warmer than usual for this time of year – 3° warmer than average. Pretty notable.
After that, from the 28th on, onshore winds return and swell drops back under 3ft, with energy falling below 100. The last couple days of July show some light cross-offshore or clean conditions on the 31st, but the swell is only 1ft to 2ft – nothing to make a session out of.
So bottom line: the only real shot at a clean, surfable wave is Monday the 27th. Everything else is either too small, too chopped, or both. Keep your board handy for that day.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | NNW 6 | WNW 8 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | NW 7 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 22 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 8:14PM3.97m | 8:40AM3.22m | 8:59PM3.91m | 9:25AM3.10m | 9:43PM3.72m | 10:10AM2.95m | 10:28PM3.45m | 10:57AM2.80m | 11:14PM3.14m | 11:47AM2.65m | 00:05AM2.82m | 12:44PM2.54m | 1:06AM2.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:43PM0.09m | 2:30AM0.00m | 2:27PM0.15m | 3:15AM0.12m | 3:10PM0.28m | 4:00AM0.30m | 3:55PM0.49m | 4:45AM0.52m | 4:43PM0.73m | 5:31AM0.76m | 5:37PM0.97m | 6:24AM0.96m | 6:44PM1.16m | ||||||||
5:18 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:59 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:57 | — | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:51 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | W 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
6 | 6 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 23 | 11 | 5 | 22 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 35 | 34 | 31 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | W 8 | — | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 12 | W 9 | — | — | NW 6 | NNW 6 | — | NNW 3 | — | NW 6 | — |
2 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 6 | — | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 6 | — | — | 9 | 4 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 7 | W 13 | — | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 12 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 4 | — | — | NW 6 | NNW 4 | NW 6 | NNW 3 | — | — | NW 2 | — | NW 6 | WNW 2 | NW 5 |
— | — | 1 | 5 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 11 | — | — | 14 | 1 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | 6 | 1 | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 117 | 243 | 77 | 313 | 2241 | 117 | 261 | 399 | 17 | 19 | 323 | 117 | 117 | 278 | 77 | 119 | 316 | 231 | 316 | 1220 | 231 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Live 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.










