Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, W swell with 1,881 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 3.0m 11s 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’m gonna level with you. The 16-day outlook for this area is one of those long, flat spells where you’re better off cleaning your board or checking the forecast for somewhere else. Let’s go through it.
The first morning on Thursday the 13th, things start off small. Back Strands has a tiny 2ft west swell with a light south cross-off breeze, so there’s a bit of clean, knee-high dribble. Combined energy is only 100 (weak). The water is a touch warmer than normal at 61°F. It’s surfable, but it’s pretty ordinary.
Right after that, it all goes downhill. From Thursday afternoon all the way through to the end of the month, the scoreboard is a blank run. We’re talking day after day of poor surf conditions. Most of that stretch has onshore or cross-onshore winds, with the swell staying tiny, under 3ft, and periods hovering around 8 seconds or less. There’s one bump of energy on Tuesday the 19th, when a 5ft west-northwest swell shows up with a combined energy of 222 (moderate), but it’s blown out by a fresh 19 mph northwesterly. That’s a complete mess – onshore, lumpy, and borderline choppy. Not worth paddling out for a surf, but if you’ve got a kite, that might look more interesting.
For a solid week, from the 14th through the 21st, the wind and swell just never line up. We see some clean conditions early on Sunday the 16th with a light offshore, but the swell is down to 2ft and dropping. The wave energy is in the toilet, values like 37 and 24. It’s a wipeout.
The only other faint glimmer is right at the end, on Friday the 28th. The morning sees a 3ft west swell, period bumps to 9 seconds, and light east-northeast cross-offshore winds. The combined energy is back up to 106 (weak to moderate). It’s clean, and you might get a few waist-high runners on the reef. But it’s just one session, and the afternoon gets trashed by an onshore northwest wind.
Bottom line: There is no standout. There is nothing that gets me amped. The entire window is a flat, windy mess with only one or two mornings that are barely rideable. The area just isn’t delivering this time. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d say save the wax.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon night, min 13°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSE on Sun morning, strong winds from the W by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 100 | 96 | 61 | 56 | 49 | 68 | 104 | 83 | 50 | 31 | 14 | 83 | 111 | 70 | 64 | 178 | 417 | 1881 | 849 | 625 | 389 |
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-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 8 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 7 | W 9 | N 8 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 100 | 96 | 61 | 56 | — | 2 | 104 | 83 | 50 | 31 | 14 | 83 | 1 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | NW 7 | — | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 7 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | S 2 | — | W 8 | — | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 49 | 68 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 111 | — | 64 | 178 | 417 | 1881 | 849 | 625 | 389 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 53 | 53 | 265 | 727 | 527 | 178 | 1015 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 36 | 37 | 273 | 53 | 267 | 27 | 422 | 494 | 265 |
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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