Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 23 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.4° C
1.8° 

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 23 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, WNW swell with 678 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with WNW 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 10s. 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 1.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Mon 27th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 9s
Best Surf 7PM (Mon 27th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sun 26th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

First up, I gotta be straight with you – the outlook for Back Strands is a tough one. We’ve got a real quiet start, and the whole 16-day window is looking pretty grim. The water temp is sitting at 62°F which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, but that’s about the only good news.

The pattern that’s setting up is a long stretch of poor surf. From Thursday the 23rd right through to the end of the month, it’s mostly cross-onshore winds and choppy, messy conditions. We do get a bit of a pulse of swell showing up around the 25th and 26th, with wave heights hitting 7 ft from the WNW, and the combined energy hitting 613 (moderate) and 804 (strong) on the Saturday and Sunday. But with the wind howling from the WNW at 22 mph on the Sunday, it’s going to be a windblown mess. That kind of size and short period (9-10 seconds) with onshore wind is gonna be a battle. For the experienced crew only, if you’re desperate.

We’ve got a couple of days of cleaner conditions from Monday the 27th through Wednesday the 29th, with the wind switching to a cross-offshore from the S and SSW. The swell drops right back though, down to 4 ft and then 3 ft. The combined energy falls to 328 (moderate) and then 114 (weak). The surf is still rated as poor or marginal. On Monday morning the 27th, the waves are 4 ft from the WNW, period 10 seconds, and the wind is a clean cross-offshore at 12 mph. It’s the best we’ll see, but it’s still just a marginal option. You might get a couple of average ones, but keep the expectations low.

After that, from the 30th of July right through to the 7th of August, it’s a dead zone. The swell drops to nothing – 3 ft, then 2 ft, then 1 ft, and even 0.7 ft. The combined energy falls into the 10s and 20s (weak). There’s a period of strong winds on the 4th and 5th of August, with the SSE and S wind at 25 mph, but the swell is gone. That’s more kite-surfing territory than paddle surfing. On the 7th of August we get a hint of offshore wind from the SE at 16 mph, but the swell is only 2 ft. It’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride.

Honestly, there is no standout swell in this window. The best chance, if you’re a local who knows the reef, is the Monday morning, July 27th. That’s your one shot at something clean and rideable, but it’s barely a pulse. The rest of the forecast is a write-off. For a reef break like this, we need a proper groundswell with a bit of period, and we just aren’t getting it.

Rusty signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Thu morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds.

Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
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
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
NW
6
0.3
W
8
0.3
WNW
11
1.1
WNW
9
1.1
WNW
8
0.9
W
9
1.9
WNW
9
1.8
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
10
1.9
WNW
10
1.9
WNW
10
1.5
WNW
10
1.3
WNW
10
1
WNW
9
1.1
W
9
1.1
W
9
1.1
W
9
1
W
8
1
W
9
1
W
9
1
W
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
6
12
24
206
171
127
597
650
562
664
657
391
283
181
190
190
199
143
146
154
162
Wind (km/h)
10
WNW
15
WNW
15
WSW
20
WSW
25
W
30
SW
30
WNW
25
W
30
WNW
30
WNW
30
WNW
20
WNW
20
S
15
SSW
15
S
15
S
15
S
15
SW
15
SW
15
W
10
SSE
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
off
High Tide
1:52PM2.49m
2:18AM2.43m
3:06PM2.53m
3:33AM2.43m
4:11PM2.65m
4:34AM2.52m
5:02PM2.83m
5:21AM2.66m
5:44PM3.03m
6:01AM2.79m
6:22PM3.22m
6:36AM2.90m
6:56PM3.38m
Low Tide
8:06PM1.25m
8:38AM1.15m
9:25PM1.21m
9:43AM1.09m
10:27PM1.08m
10:36AM0.96m
11:14PM0.92m
11:19AM0.79m
11:55PM0.76m
11:56AM0.63m
00:32AM0.61m
12:30PM0.48m
1:06AM0.49m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:28
5:31
5:31
5:33
5:35
5:37
5:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:50
9:47
9:46
9:45
9:44
9:42
9:39
 mm
3
1
4
2
2
4
1
2
1
2
Temp °C
14
14
13
15
16
15
15
15
15
14
14
14
14
17
17
17
19
18
16
16
16
Feels °C
13
12
11
11
11
9
11
11
12
9
8
10
11
16
16
17
18
17
13
13
15
  • 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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