Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 03 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
16.6°C
2.0° 

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 3 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, W swell with 4,449 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 10s period. 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) 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 1.2m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sat 5th Sep)5ft (1.6m) 10s
Best Surf10AM (Sat 5th Sep)5ft (1.6m) 10s
Most Powerful10AM (Fri 4th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's chew through this forecast. It's a tale of two weeks: a whole lot of nasty followed by a real nice payout. You're gonna have to be patient, because the good stuff doesn't show up for over a week.

The pattern is a solid stormy pulse that tears things up, then the wind lays down and it cleans right up. There's a solid nine-day dry spell of poor surf before we get a green light.

The only spot in the picture is Back Strands. So, let's get into it.

First week is a write-off. On the 4th of September, we get a big 12-foot swell rolling in from the west, but the wind is a strong onshore at 28 mph. It's a total mess, with a combined energy of 4449 – that's a ton of power, but it's all wrong. Not for a paddleboard, unless you want a beating. That's kite-surfing territory.

That big but dirty swell hangs around for days. The wind does swing offshore on the 5th with 5-foot waves, but the period is a short 10 seconds and it's still rated as poor.

Then the tide turns. On the 14th of September (Monday morning), we get 5-foot waves from the west, a 11-second period, and a light offshore wind. The water temp is about average for this time of year. The energy is a solid 640 – nice and punchy. That's the first day it's worth paddling out.

But the real winner is the afternoon of the 14th. We get 6 feet of clean groundswell out of the west-northwest with a 12-second period, and the wind goes dead flat – glass. Energy hits 937. That's your best window of the whole 16 days. Perfect, clean reef waves with no wind. Just you and the ocean.

Tuesday the 15th is nearly as good: 6-foot swell from the west-northwest, glassy conditions in the afternoon, clean in the morning, and strong, consistent energy (815). Take the day off.

After that, the swell drops, but the 17th of September (Thursday afternoon) has 5-foot swell with a light offshore breeze and an 11-second period, so you'll still get some fun ones.

Just remember, Back Strands is a reef break. That long-period groundswell (12 seconds) will really stand up and reel off, but it can get shifty. The break is fairly exposed, and with that kind of quality on offer, especially on that Monday and Tuesday, expect the lineup to be busy.

First week, don't bother. Keep an eye on the wind and wait for that second week. It's worth the wait.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed night, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Thu night, light winds from the SW by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Mon afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sun afternoon, near gales from the W by Mon afternoon).

Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
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
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
W
7
1.3
WSW
8
2
W
10
3.5
W
13
3
W
12
2.4
WNW
12
1.6
W
10
1.2
WNW
10
0.8
W
9
0.6
W
9
0.9
WSW
10
1.1
W
6
1.2
W
8
1
W
8
1.6
W
8
2.2
WNW
9
1.8
WNW
9
1.6
WNW
9
1.3
WNW
8
1
WNW
8
0.9
WNW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
104
252
867
4449
2762
1513
562
282
99
53
158
83
169
118
343
689
525
397
211
127
94
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
35
SW
35
WSW
45
WSW
40
W
25
W
15
S
25
S
20
SSE
35
SSE
20
SSW
25
WSW
30
S
50
WSW
40
WSW
45
WNW
45
WNW
30
WNW
25
SW
20
SSW
30
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:19AM2.95m
10:42PM2.89m
11:18AM2.76m
11:53PM2.61m
12:40PM2.65m
1:30AM2.47m
2:18PM2.72m
3:09AM2.55m
3:39PM3.00m
4:20AM2.77m
4:39PM3.34m
5:13AM3.02m
5:27PM3.64m
Low Tide
4:17PM0.73m
4:47AM0.81m
5:22PM0.97m
5:58AM1.05m
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
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
light rain
rain showers
mod rain
rain showers
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:45
6:47
6:48
6:50
6:52
6:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:21
8:19
8:15
8:14
8:10
8:08
8:06
 mm
4
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
8
2
8
2
2
5
Temp °C
17
14
15
15
15
14
14
16
16
18
19
15
14
13
13
13
14
14
15
15
14
Feels °C
12
8
9
7
8
9
11
11
13
13
17
11
9
3
4
3
5
7
10
11
11
  • 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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