Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, W swell with 2,568 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s 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 3.0m 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 1.1m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's cooking at Back Strands.
The first week or so is a bit of a bust. The water is sitting at about 62°F, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but that's the only good news. The wind and swell just aren't lining up.
It starts Tuesday the 1st with a 4ft west swell, but a fresh cross-shore wind from the southwest is making it choppy. Wednesday the 2nd morning is clean with an offshore breeze, but the swell drops to 2ft and the energy is weak (57). Not worth your time.
We get a few days of building swell, but the wind is always a problem. By Friday the 4th, we have a solid 10ft west swell, but the wind is howling from the west at 28 mph, making it a cross-onshore, messy, blown-out mess. The energy is massive (2118), but it's a kite-surfing day, not a paddle-surfing one. That size is strictly for experts, and with those winds, it's a hard pass.
The weekend and into the next week is more of the same: wind-affected, choppy, or too small. The morning of Monday the 8th offers a 8ft west swell with a cross-offshore wind, so it's clean, but the quality is rated as marginal.
After a long stretch of poor conditions, we finally get a proper window. The standout is Monday the 14th. The morning is looking good with a 5ft swell from the west-northwest, a 12-second period, and a light southerly cross-offshore breeze. The surf is clean, the energy is solid (680), and the forecast says "expect very good surf conditions." This is the one to get excited about.
Then, Tuesday the 15th morning is another chance. A 7ft west swell with a 12-second period, light winds, and clean conditions. The energy is pumping (1175). That's a solid groundswell.
The last highlight is Wednesday the 16th morning. The swell is a solid 8ft from the west-northwest, with a very long 13-second period. The energy is massive (2486), and the wind is light and cross-offshore. The forecast says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This is a big, powerful groundswell, so it's for the experienced crew only.
Bottom line: the first week is a wash. The best bet is the morning of the 14th, with the 15th and 16th mornings being good options for the more experienced surfers. Don't book any time off for the first week.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Tue night, strong winds from the WSW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Fri morning, light winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WSW 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 212 | 213 | 131 | 57 | 40 | 156 | 173 | 434 | 771 | 2118 | 2239 | 1216 | 416 | 227 | 101 | 53 | 13 | 245 | 449 | 339 | 656 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:10PM3.42m | 9:34AM3.12m | 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 | |||||||||
Low Tide | 2:49PM0.33m | 3:17AM0.33m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:10 | — |
mm | — | 2 | — | 4 | — | 2 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | NW 10 | N 10 | — | — | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 131 | 57 | 40 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 1216 | 416 | 227 | 101 | 53 | 13 | 245 | 449 | 339 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | — | SE 2 | SW 3 | WSW 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 12 | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SSE 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | W 9 |
| kJ | 212 | 213 | — | 2 | 6 | 156 | 173 | 434 | 771 | 2118 | 2239 | — | — | — | 7 | 13 | 47 | 20 | 25 | 24 | 656 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 53 | 0 | 7 | 53 | 53 | 457 | 265 | 268 | 292 | 400 | 265 | 145 | 27 | 7 | 36 | 452 | 292 | 268 | 269 | 0 |
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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