Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period, W swell with 1,265 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 2.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the local stretch. I'm gonna be straight with you – this sixteen-day window is a tough one. We're looking at a whole lot of nothing for the first week and a half, with the odd spark of potential way down the line. Let's get into it.
For the first eight days, from Monday the 17th right through to Monday the 24th of August, it's a write-off at Back Strands. The swell is tiny, the wind is a mess, and when we do see a pulse of size, it's just getting hammered by onshores. On the 18th and 19th, we get a pulse up to 8ft, but with a strong cross-onshore wind and lumpy conditions, it's never going to be surfable. Honestly, that kind of energy on a beach setup with that wind is more for the kite crowd than for us.
We then get a dry spell on the swell front until the morning of Tuesday the 25th. That morning we finally see a glimmer of hope. The combined swell energy is moderate (260), with a 4ft swell rolling in from the West, and a light cross-offshore wind from the SSE is keeping the surface clean. The period is a middling 10 seconds, so it's not packing any real punch, but the score is still just a 1 out of 10. It's surfable, but very ordinary. This clean window holds through Wednesday afternoon as the wind stays cross-off, but the swell drops away, so it's not a call to get excited about.
The real standout of the whole outlook, and I mean the *only* one that gets my heart rate up, is the morning of Tuesday, the 1st of September. This is a long-range promise, so don't book the day off yet, but it looks promising. We've got a solid 6ft groundswell from the WNW, paired with a very long 14 second period. That means real power and shape. The combined swell energy is strong (1223). The wind is light and from the south, giving us a clean cross-off. The only downside? That super long period might make the waves break a bit too straight on a beach break like this, but with the right sandbanks, it could be firing. It's a moderate forecast, but it's the best we've got.
The water on the 17th sits at a touch warmer than normal for the time of year at 62°F, but that's the least of your worries given the surf.
Bottom line: we have a massive gap of over a week with nothing, then a few clean but small days around the 25th, and one proper, promising session to keep an eye on at the very end. Keep the faith, it often doesn't stay this poor for long.
Stay tuned,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Mon morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Thu morning, light winds from the NNW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 68 | 45 | 138 | 243 | 497 | 1096 | 1219 | 734 | 463 | 144 | 82 | 82 | 56 | 56 | 25 | 13 | 33 | 17 | 37 | 53 | 35 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 9:47PM3.35m | 10:09AM2.95m | 10:27PM3.01m | 10:51AM2.76m | 11:11PM2.67m | 11:41AM2.56m | 00:08AM2.39m | 12:52PM2.41m | 1:34AM2.22m | 2:28PM2.40m | 3:12AM2.25m | 3:50PM2.56m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 3:22PM0.41m | 3:54AM0.51m | 4:02PM0.67m | 4:31AM0.78m | 4:48PM0.95m | 5:14AM1.05m | 5:46PM1.21m | 6:15AM1.27m | 7:18PM1.37m | 7:50AM1.36m | 9:06PM1.34m | 9:21AM1.26m | 10:15PM1.16m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |  |  | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:01 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:47 | — |
mm | 7 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 68 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | 734 | 463 | 144 | 82 | — | 56 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 37 | 53 | 35 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | NNW 7 | W 8 | W 10 | — |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | — | NW 9 | W 9 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 2 | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | — | — | NNW 8 | NNW 4 | NW 8 | N 3 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | 138 | 243 | 497 | 1096 | 1219 | — | — | 76 | 15 | 82 | 3 | 56 | 25 | 13 | 33 | 17 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 27 | 36 | 424 | 319 | 512 | 145 | 127 | 199 | 196 | 269 | 313 | 178 | 313 | 313 | 178 | 178 | 308 | 53 | 276 | 117 | 19 |
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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