Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 12s period, W swell with 1,378 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 2.1m 12s 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 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 7ft (2.1m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's talk about Back Strands. This is a reef break, fairly exposed to the swell, and it works best when it's coming from the west. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild.
So, looking at the whole 16-day forecast, it's a rough one. There's a lot of junk in that window. Most of the time, the wind is howling onshore, or the swell is so small and weak it's not worth paddling out for. We have a long dry spell of poor conditions from the start all the way through to the 2nd of September.
The only real window, and I'm being generous here, is Wednesday, 2nd September. The morning session is your only chance. We've got a light offshore wind from the ESE at 12 mph, which should give us some clean, smooth faces. The swell is a tiny 0.6 feet from the west, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is weak (83). The wave comment calls it "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" – it's a small, grovelly wave, but it's the only thing on the table. The rest of that day is a complete mess with strong winds.
After that, it goes downhill fast. We get a big, long-period swell on Friday, 4th September – 7 feet from the west with a 12-second period. That's a lot of energy (1378), but the wind is screaming from the WSW at 28 mph, creating a strong cross-onshore mess. That's expert territory only, and it's going to be a fight. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing that day.
The second week is a total loss. Another big swell on Monday, 7th September – 10 feet from the WNW with a 9-second period, but it's onshore with 15 mph winds. Same story: big, messy, and for experts only. The energy is huge (1291), but the quality is terrible. Honestly, I'd find something else to do. The forecast can change, but right now, this is a tough stretch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the NW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, strong winds from the WSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 4 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 63 | 39 | 114 | 137 | 92 | 235 | 131 | 84 | 43 | 58 | 175 | 339 | 516 | 701 | 1378 | 857 | 423 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | off | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 7:16AM3.23m | 7:29PM3.71m | 7:48AM3.29m | 8:00PM3.70m | 8:21AM3.29m | 8:33PM3.60m | 8:55AM3.23m | 9:10PM3.42m | 9:34AM3.12m | 9:51PM3.18m | 10:19AM2.95m | 10:42PM2.89m | 11:18AM2.76m | 11:53PM2.61m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:08PM0.20m | 1:39AM0.11m | 1:40PM0.18m | 2:10AM0.10m | 2:13PM0.22m | 2:42AM0.18m | 2:49PM0.33m | 3:17AM0.33m | 3:29PM0.50m | 3:57AM0.55m | 4:17PM0.73m | 4:47AM0.81m | 5:22PM0.97m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — |
 | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 | — | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 12 | — | — | W 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 63 | 39 | 20 | — | 92 | 235 | 131 | 84 | 43 | 26 | 10 | 13 | — | — | 1378 | 857 | 423 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 8 | NNW 6 | W 11 | — | — | W 9 | — | NW 7 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | — | NW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 55 | — | 2 | 10 | 40 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 10 | W 6 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | WNW 7 | W 6 | SSW 4 | — | — | — | ESE 2 | WSW 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 10 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 114 | 137 | 8 | — | — | — | 1 | 58 | 175 | 339 | 516 | 701 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 77 | 268 | 184 | 7 | 7 | 247 | 292 | 53 | 27 | 267 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 292 | 792 | 721 | 561 | 494 | 494 | 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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