Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 9s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, WNW swell with 2,409 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 9s 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 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Righto, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Back Strands. It’s a reef setup, fairly exposed to the swells, and the water’s about 62°—a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice little bonus.
Not gonna lie, the next week or so is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a couple of days with some swell around, but the wind is a mess. Saturday afternoon the 5th sees a small 4ft WNW swell with a 10-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off, so it’s clean, but the energy is weak (328). It’s surfable, but nothing to get too excited about. Then from Sunday the 6th through to the end of the following week, it’s mostly a saga of poor conditions. Strong to near-gale winds, cross-onshore and onshore, with a few rain showers thrown in for good measure. The swell jumps up to 12ft on Tuesday the 8th, but with a WNW near-gale hammering it, it’s blown out rubbish. The combined energy spikes to 2409, but it’s a total mess—more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle session.
The real standout is the Thursday the 17th. That’s your best bet. The morning kicks off with a solid 8ft W swell, 10-second period, and the wind is a light offshore from the ESE. It’s clean, and the energy is strong (1231). By the afternoon, it gets even better—8ft W swell, period stretching out to 11 seconds, and it’s glassy. The energy jumps to 1538. This is proper groundswell, and for a reef break like this, it’s going to be lined up and powerful. It’s a bit on the bigger side, so it’s one for the experienced crew, but the quality is right there. The following Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th hold clean 7ft and 6ft W swells with offshore breezes, good energy, and a much more manageable size for a wider range of surfers. Crowds are possible here, so keep that in mind.
So, the long story short: the first week is a dud. Don’t waste your time. The action kicks off on Thursday the 17th. That Thursday afternoon, with the glassy conditions and that solid W swell, is the pick of the whole 16-day window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the W by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Tue afternoon, calm by Wed afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 9 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 328 | 132 | 49 | 94 | 367 | 479 | 815 | 1667 | 2409 | 1931 | 902 | 308 | 147 | 77 | 74 | 118 | 211 | 232 | 355 | 348 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 1:30AM2.47m | 2:18PM2.72m | 3:09AM2.55m | 3:39PM3.00m | 4:20AM2.77m | 4:39PM3.34m | 5:13AM3.02m | 5:27PM3.64m | 5:57AM3.22m | 6:09PM3.85m | 6:36AM3.37m | 6:48PM3.94m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:02PM1.11m | 7:40AM1.13m | 8:53PM0.99m | 9:13AM0.98m | 10:09PM0.69m | 10:16AM0.72m | 11:03PM0.38m | 11:05AM0.45m | 11:47PM0.12m | 11:47AM0.23m | 00:25AM-0.05m | 12:26PM0.09m | 1:01AM-0.11m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 10 | W 16 | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 10 | — | — | — | WNW 9 |
| kJ | 328 | 132 | 49 | 94 | 79 | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 147 | 77 | 74 | 118 | — | — | — | 348 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | S 4 | SSW 5 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | — | — | SSW 4 | SW 3 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 9 | — |
| kJ | — | 8 | 27 | 37 | 367 | 479 | 815 | 1667 | 2409 | 1931 | 902 | 308 | — | — | 11 | 3 | 211 | 232 | 355 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 466 | 522 | 53 | 159 | 709 | 292 | 727 | 727 | 569 | 265 | 51 | 0 | 27 | 10 | 53 | 568 | 727 | 53 |
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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