Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 3,871 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s 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 (Aug 12) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s 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 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Back Strands.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch ahead. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and ordinary for the most part. We’ve got a real dry spell from now all the way through to the end of the first week, with no real surf to get excited about. There’s a gap of several days where I wouldn’t even bother paddling out.
Things start to look a touch more interesting around Tuesday the 18th, but even then, it’s marginal. The first standout worth a look is the morning of Tuesday the 18th of August. We’ll see a clean, 5ft swell from the west, with a period of 8 seconds. The wind is a light offshore from the south, keeping things clean. The combined swell energy is moderate at 334. It’s still a bit small and short-period, but it’s the best we’ve had in a while. Don’t expect perfection, but you might snag a few.
Now, later that same day, the wind gets messy and the swell jumps to 8ft, but with a fresh cross-shore, it’s not worth it. The following Wednesday the 19th sees a big, powerful 12ft swell from the west, with a long period of 11 seconds and very strong energy reading of 2380. That’s proper groundswell. However, it’s blowing a strong cross-onshore from the west at 28 mph, making it a total mess. For experts only, and even then, it’s likely more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle-surfing day.
The next little blip of hope comes on Saturday the 22nd of August in the afternoon. The wind goes glassy, and we get a 3ft swell from the west at 9 seconds. The energy is a moderate 162. Conditions are described as glassy, which is a major positive for clean waves. The waves are surfable but very ordinary – not a stand-out, but a solid option if you’re desperate for a paddle.
For the rest of the run into the second week, it’s a lot of onshore wind and small, weak swell. Nothing really jumps out as a true standout beyond that Tuesday the 18th morning. So, keep your eyes on the 18th of August for the best chance of a wave, and maybe the 22nd for a glassy session. For the rest, I’d probably find something else to do.
Keep it salty.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Tue night, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 33 | 32 | 119 | 100 | 96 | 61 | 55 | 22 | 72 | 107 | 91 | 51 | 40 | 20 | 17 | 54 | 104 | 110 | 334 | 1085 | 3871 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-off | on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:10AM3.21m | 6:28PM3.84m | 6:55AM3.32m | 7:11PM4.00m | 7:36AM3.37m | 7:52PM4.02m | 8:16AM3.35m | 8:31PM3.91m | 8:54AM3.26m | 9:09PM3.67m | 9:31AM3.13m | 9:47PM3.35m | 10:09AM2.95m | 10:27PM3.01m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:02PM0.22m | 00:44AM-0.01m | 12:45PM0.08m | 1:26AM-0.10m | 1:25PM0.02m | 2:05AM-0.08m | 2:04PM0.06m | 2:43AM0.05m | 2:43PM0.20m | 3:18AM0.25m | 3:22PM0.41m | 3:54AM0.51m | 4:02PM0.67m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:13 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:01 | — | 8:59 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | — | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 33 | 32 | 119 | 100 | 96 | 61 | 55 | 22 | 8 | 107 | — | 51 | 40 | 20 | 8 | 54 | 104 | 110 | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — | W 6 | W 10 | NW 6 | N 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | 3 | 17 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 6 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | — | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 3 | W 8 | W 9 | W 12 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 72 | — | 91 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 13 | 4 | 334 | 1085 | 3871 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 53 | 415 | 415 | 522 | 178 | 771 | 53 | 17 | 7 | 15 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 21 | 145 | 145 |
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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