Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, WNW swell with 2,012 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what’s on the table for our local stretch.
Honestly, looking at the next 16 days, it’s a pretty grim picture for Back Strands. We’ve got a solid run of poor conditions that stretches from now right through to the end of the month. The first week is a write-off with tiny, weak swells and messy wind. There’s a long gap of nothing recommended until we hit a real standout event, but it comes with some serious strings attached.
The one true standout in this whole forecast is the morning of Wednesday, August 19th. The swell jumps up to a solid 8ft out of the west, with a proper 11-second period pushing in a lot of energy (1612). That’s a powerful, long-period swell that will have plenty of grunt. But here’s the kicker – the wind is howling onshore from the northwest at 19 mph, which will absolutely trash the surface. This is expert-only territory due to the size and the chop. For a spot like Back Strands, a reef break, this setup looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The afternoon gets even bigger to 10ft with even more energy (1796), but the same problem with onshore wind. The water temp will be about average for this time of year.
Later on, the morning of Thursday the 20th has a drop to 5ft from the WNW, but still onshore wind. The morning of Friday the 21st sees glassy conditions with tiny 2ft swell, and the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd offers some glassy or clean windows with tiny waves (1ft to 2ft) from the west, but nothing with any real push.
So, the best on offer is the big swell on the 19th, but only if you’re a rock-solid expert and can handle the awful wind. The clean windows later are only for the longboard or a micro-skim board.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the NW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | W 9 | WSW 8 | W 5 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 8 | W 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 100 | 71 | 83 | 56 | 49 | 69 | 110 | 83 | 52 | 39 | 20 | 61 | 107 | 45 | 85 | 51 | 38 | 497 | 1612 | 1796 | 408 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 10:51AM2.76m | 11:11PM2.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:31AM0.78m | 4:48PM0.95m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | |  |  | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | |
 | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:06 | — | — | 9:04 | — | — | 9:01 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — |
mm | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | W 9 | NW 7 | — | — | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | W 10 |
| kJ | 100 | 71 | 83 | 56 | 49 | 69 | 110 | 83 | 52 | 39 | 20 | 61 | 2 | — | — | 51 | 38 | — | — | — | 408 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 8 | W 5 | W 7 | — | S 3 | WSW 8 | W 11 | WNW 11 | NNW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 107 | 45 | 85 | — | 7 | 497 | 1612 | 1796 | 88 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 36 | 53 | 276 | 494 | 178 | 53 | 745 | 51 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 27 | 22 | 7 | 127 | 416 | 427 | 269 | 276 |
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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