Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 15 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
15.7°C
1.7° 

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 15 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 22 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 16s period, W swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, WNW swell with 6,452 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 20 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s 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 20) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s 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 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7PM. 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 (Sep 21) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Sun 20th Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 12s
Best Surf10AM (Tue 22nd Sep)6ft (1.9m) 16s
Most Powerful 7PM (Thu 17th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. It’s a bit of a wild start to the outlook for Back Strands. We’ve got a reef break that’s fairly consistent, but the next few days are going to be a write-off. The wind is going to be howling from the west and northwest, with onshore conditions and some serious lump that’s going to have the ocean looking like a washing machine. We’re talking fresh breezes on Tuesday, and by Thursday the wind is going to be near gale force with swells hitting 10ft to 13ft. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine full of rocks. The energy is cranking, but it’s all for nothing with the wind. We’ll see the combined energy spike to 5131 on Thursday arvo, but it’s just blown-out mess. If you’re into kite surfing, this stretch might get you going, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a hard pass.

Now, we do get a bit of a breather on Friday the 18th. The swell drops back to a still-juicy 8ft from the WNW, with a 13-second period. The wind swings around to a light south cross-off, and the ocean will be clean. It’s going to be big and powerful, so this is not for the faint-hearted. Over 8ft means it’s expert-only territory, and the long-period swell might be a bit much for a beach break, but this is a reef, so it should hold up. I’d give it a look if you’ve got the skills. The energy is strong at 2157.

Saturday and Sunday are a bit of a letdown. The swell eases to the 6ft – 6ft range, but we have cross-onshore winds again, so it’s back to being lumpy and bumpy. Not great.

Then we get a bit of hope. Monday the 21st drops to 5ft, but it’s only marginal. The real standout for the first week is on Tuesday the 22nd. The wind goes glassy in the morning, and we get a solid 6ft of west swell at a very long 16-second period. The energy is strong at 1961. This is a proper groundswell. For a reef setup like this, that long period is going to produce some beautiful, powerful lines. It’s an excellent forecast for experienced surfers. This is the pick of the first week. The afternoon gets a bit questionable, so get out there early.

The rest of the week looks pretty fun, with a run of clean days from Wednesday the 23rd through Friday the 25th. The swell stays in the 4ft – 7ft range, and we get some light offshore and cross-off winds. Good waves, just not as big. Then Friday arvo, the swell kicks back up to 8ft with a 16-second period, and the energy jumps to 3567. It’s a bit of a late swell, so we’re looking at a potentially great Saturday.

And Saturday the 26th it is. Morning brings a clean 8ft from the WNW with a 14-second period and a gentle offshore wind. The energy is strong at 1977, and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. The water is a touch warmer than average for this time of year, sitting at 60°, which takes the edge off. This is the other standout. The swell direction is from the WNW, which is in the same ballpark as the optimum for this spot.

There’s a bit of a drop-off for the next couple of days, but then things get properly interesting for the final stretch. On Monday the 28th, we’ve got a big 12ft WNW swell with an 11-second period hitting in the morning, and it’s clean with an offshore wind. The energy is a massive 2977. Then that afternoon, it’s still 10ft and glassy. This is a big, powerful swell, so again, expert-only. It’s promising, but it’s far out, so we’ll see how it fills in.

The final day of the outlook, Wednesday the 30th, the swell drops back to a manageable 5ft, and the wind is fresh offshore. It’ll be clean, if a little on the small side. Honestly, looking at the whole run, the two days to circle are Tuesday the 22nd and Saturday the 26th. They’ve got the size, the direction, and the clean winds. Get on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the W on Wed morning, strong winds from the W by Thu morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri night, light winds from the SSE by Sun afternoon).

Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
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
3
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
3
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
W
7
1.5
W
9
1.8
WNW
12
1.7
W
11
1.5
W
10
2
W
9
3
W
11
4
WNW
13
3.5
WNW
14
2.5
WNW
13
2.1
W
12
1.8
W
11
1.8
W
10
1.9
W
10
1.9
WNW
11
1.8
WNW
11
1.7
W
12
1.6
W
12
1.4
W
11
1.4
W
10
1.4
W
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
351
397
928
657
434
627
2234
5131
4382
2157
1290
776
643
740
878
866
773
711
441
426
526
Wind (km/h)
35
WNW
30
WNW
30
NW
25
W
30
SW
35
W
50
W
45
W
35
W
20
S
30
WSW
30
WSW
30
WSW
30
W
25
W
15
SSW
10
SSE
15
SSW
10
S
10
SW
10
S
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
9:08PM3.19m
9:26AM3.07m
9:44PM2.87m
10:03AM2.85m
10:23PM2.55m
10:49AM2.61m
11:18PM2.28m
12:00PM2.41m
00:50AM2.11m
1:47PM2.37m
2:42AM2.15m
3:16PM2.54m
3:52AM2.34m
Low Tide
2:50PM0.39m
3:07AM0.52m
3:27PM0.65m
3:40AM0.79m
4:07PM0.93m
4:17AM1.07m
5:00PM1.22m
5:11AM1.31m
6:32PM1.42m
6:54AM1.45m
8:43PM1.39m
8:47AM1.35m
9:52PM1.17m
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:05
7:07
7:09
7:11
7:11
7:13
7:16
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:51
7:49
7:45
7:44
7:40
7:38
7:36
 mm
3
1
1
7
2
1
1
Temp °C
14
14
13
14
15
15
13
13
13
14
17
16
14
14
13
13
17
17
19
20
18
Feels °C
8
8
7
9
9
8
3
4
6
10
13
11
8
8
7
10
17
16
19
19
19
  • 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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