Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 11s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 30 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, NW swell with 390 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m 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 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 30) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here.
Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – the next week and a half is a tough slog. We’ve got a long stretch of mostly small, messy, or blown-out conditions at Back Strands. The water is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least you won’t be freezing while you’re waiting for something to happen.
The whole first week, from Sunday the 23rd right through to Friday the 4th of September, is basically a write-off. There’s a couple of mornings around Monday the 24th and Thursday the 27th where the swell bumps up to around 3ft from the west-northwest with a 10-11 second period, and the wind is light and cross-offshore, making it clean. But the wave energy is only moderate (254-265) and the conditions are just ordinary – surfable, but nothing to get excited about. The rest of that week is a mix of small, weak west swell, onshore winds, and rain. It’s a real quiet period.
Then things get a bit more interesting. Saturday the 5th of September morning is the standout. We’ve got a solid 10ft swell rolling in from the west with a long 11-second period (groundswell). The combined energy is massive at 2078, and the wind is a gentle south-southwesterly cross-offshore, keeping it clean. This is big, powerful stuff – well over 8ft, so it’s strictly for experienced surfers. The west swell direction is a perfect match for the optimum direction here at Back Strands, so it should line up well on the reef. Just be aware that with that long period, it might be a bit straight at the beach, but on a reef setup like this, it should be excellent.
The Sunday morning the 6th of September holds similar size at 10ft from the west, but the wind swings to a strong 35 km/h south-southwesterly cross-offshore. The energy is still huge (2481), but that fresh breeze will make it a bit more challenging. Still, for the big-wave crew, it’s a solid option.
After that, the wind really goes onshore and the swell starts to drop, with a messy, blown-out Monday the 7th. So, if you’re keen, your best bet is to mark Saturday the 5th of September morning. It’s a long way out, so don’t lock it in, but it's the only window that looks like it’s got real power and clean conditions. The rest of the forecast is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the E by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 11 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 6 | 26 | 44 | 254 | 265 | 249 | 118 | 56 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 110 | 87 | 41 | 22 | 11 | 18 | 61 | 163 | 361 | 356 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:50PM2.56m | 4:19AM2.41m | 4:44PM2.80m | 5:04AM2.60m | 5:23PM3.06m | 5:41AM2.80m | 5:57PM3.30m | 6:13AM2.97m | 6:28PM3.50m | 6:45AM3.12m | 6:58PM3.64m | 7:16AM3.23m | 7:29PM3.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:15PM1.16m | 10:19AM1.06m | 11:01PM0.94m | 11:00AM0.83m | 11:37PM0.71m | 11:35AM0.61m | 00:09AM0.50m | 12:06PM0.43m | 00:40AM0.32m | 12:37PM0.29m | 1:09AM0.18m | 1:08PM0.20m | 1:39AM0.11m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 12 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Temp °C | 14 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 11 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 26 | 44 | 254 | 265 | 249 | 118 | 56 | 21 | 10 | 10 | 110 | 87 | 41 | 22 | 11 | 18 | 61 | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 163 | 361 | 356 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 276 | 32 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 158 | 266 | 32 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 119 | 234 | 282 | 51 | 36 | 21 | 189 |
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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