Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.3° C
1.6° 

Back Strands surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Back Strands surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period, W swell with 109 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 1.0m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 4PM (Thu 30th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break it down for Back Strands.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and grim. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf conditions ahead, with only a brief glimmer of something halfway decent way out toward the end of the outlook. The water temp here is 16°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing your tail off while you’re waiting for a wave that never comes.

We’re starting off Thursday morning, 30 July, with a tiny 3ft swell from the WNW and a period of just 8 seconds, so it’s weak, short-period windswell. The combined wave energy is 105 (moderate), but the wind is a cross-on 20 km/h from the west, making it choppy and messy. No good. That afternoon gets worse – rain showers, wind picks up to 30 km/h, and the swell is still small and weak. Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st of August are more of the same: tiny waves, cross-onshore winds, and poor surf. Nothing to get excited about.

Sunday the 2nd of August morning is interesting though – we get a brief window of clean conditions. The wind drops to 5 km/h from the east, swinging cross-offshore, and the swell is a pathetic 2ft from the WNW with 8-second period. Energy is a weak 43. It’s clean, but there’s barely any wave to ride.

From Monday the 3rd through to the end of the first week, the swell drops to almost nothing – less than 1ft. The best you’ll see is clean, small, and completely unrideable. The combined energy falls into single digits or low teens. This is a dead period.

The second week, from around the 7th of August onward, is still flat. Morning of the 11th of August gives us a glassy morning with a tiny 3ft swell from the NW, period only 6 seconds, energy 59 – still weak. It’s clean, but the swell is too small and short-period to do anything with.

The only real standout comes on Thursday the 14th of August afternoon. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds, and combined wave energy jumps to 378 – that’s solid moderate energy. The wind is light from the WNW, blowing directly onshore, but at only 10 km/h it’s not wrecking it completely. Still, the direction is onshore, so it won’t be perfect. The swell is under 5ft, so it’s fine for most surfers, not too big for beginners. The period is moderate, not long period, so it’ll be a bit more consistent.

Overall, the only real window of interest is that Thursday 14th August afternoon, and even then it’s far from epic. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off. If you’re desperate, the 2nd of August morning is clean but tiny. Otherwise, keep your board in the car and wait for a better forecast.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
WNW
8
1
W
7
0.9
W
7
1
W
7
0.8
WNW
7
0.7
W
7
0.9
WNW
6
0.9
WNW
7
0.7
WNW
7
0.6
WNW
8
0.5
NW
8
0.4
NW
8
0.3
NW
7
0.3
NW
7
0.2
NNW
10
0.2
NNW
6
0.2
NNW
6
0.2
NNW
8
0.3
NW
7
0.4
NW
6
0.4
NW
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
105
109
72
89
60
43
62
62
44
40
32
21
8
11
10
4
4
6
8
9
11
Wind (km/h)
20
W
30
W
20
WSW
25
WSW
20
WNW
20
W
20
W
20
WNW
5
WNW
5
E
5
NW
5
ENE
15
ENE
15
NW
15
NE
10
ENE
10
NNW
10
E
10
ENE
10
N
15
E
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
7:29PM3.51m
7:43AM3.03m
8:00PM3.57m
8:15AM3.05m
8:32PM3.56m
8:49AM3.03m
9:04PM3.50m
9:25AM2.98m
9:38PM3.38m
10:04AM2.91m
10:18PM3.21m
10:49AM2.80m
11:06PM3.01m
Low Tide
1:03PM0.38m
1:38AM0.40m
1:34PM0.32m
2:10AM0.35m
2:05PM0.33m
2:42AM0.35m
2:38PM0.38m
3:15AM0.38m
3:13PM0.48m
3:50AM0.46m
3:52PM0.63m
4:31AM0.58m
4:39PM0.80m
clear
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:39
5:41
5:43
5:46
5:47
5:48
5:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:37
9:37
9:35
9:32
9:30
9:29
9:27
 mm
1
2
2
Temp °C
14
15
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
16
17
16
17
18
16
15
17
16
17
18
16
Feels °C
9
9
9
9
9
11
10
11
13
15
15
15
16
15
13
14
16
15
16
17
14
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • 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.

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