Back Strands Surf Break

Lat Long: 54.45° N 8.49° W

Back Strands Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 21 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Back Strands sea temperature is
17.2° C
2.6° 

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 22 Jul 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, WNW swell with 863 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Back Strands this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Back Strands in the next 16 days are 2.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 1AM (Mon 27th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

G'day, Rusty here. Lookin’ at the forecast for Back Strands, and I gotta be straight with ya – it’s a tough stretch. We’re staring down a long, dry spell with barely a whisper of rideable surf for the next week and a half. The first recommendation doesn’t even pop up until Wednesday, July 29th, so we’ve got a solid 8-day gap with nothing worth paddling out for.

The water’s running a balmy 63°, which is a solid 5° warmer than usual for this time of year – feels like we’re in the tropics, but the surf ain’t playin’ along.

Tuesday, July 21st through Sunday, July 27th – forget it. We’ve got persistent onshore and cross-onshore winds whipping up the bay, with swell heights bouncing between a pathetic 1.0 ft and 7 ft. The combined energy is weak to moderate (36 to 631), but every single session is tagged “poor surf conditions.” The winds are a mess, up to 22 mph from the WNW, turning the ocean into a lumpy, choppy nightmare. The best wave on offer is from the WNW, but with the wind tearing it apart, it’s not worth the paddle.

Monday, July 28th is no better – still cross-shore winds at 22 mph with a weak 3 ft swell. The energy is dropping (177 to 164), and the conditions are still blown out. This stretch is a write-off.

Now, here’s the one glimmer of hope. On Wednesday, July 29th, the morning session finally shows some promise. The wind swings around to a light 6 mph offshore from the SE, and the swell pushes up to 5 ft from the west, with a period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 441 – moderate but punchy. The report says “expect good surf conditions” and it’s looking clean. This is the standout of the whole period. But it’s a one-morning wonder; by the afternoon, the wind shifts back onshore, and it’s back to poor surf.

The rest of the run from Thursday, July 30th, through Monday, August 5th is a slow fade. Swell drops to 1.0 ft to 3 ft, energy fades into the double digits (35 to 165), and the winds are mostly onshore or cross-shore. There’s a couple of moments on August 3rd and 4th where the wind gets clean, but with only 2 ft of swell and weak energy (61 to 78), it’s just “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” Not a classic.

So, if you’re keen, pencil in the morning of Wednesday, July 29th. That’s your best shot. The rest… well, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Tue
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
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
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)
0.6
NNW
6
0.6
NNW
6
0.5
NW
6
0.4
NW
7
0.4
NW
6
0.3
NW
6
0.3
W
8
0.3
WNW
11
1.1
WNW
9
1.1
WNW
8
1.2
WNW
8
1.6
WNW
9
1.5
WNW
10
1.3
WNW
10
1.8
WNW
9
2
WNW
9
2.1
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
10
1.5
WNW
10
1.2
WNW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
21
20
19
16
14
6
12
23
202
167
197
394
391
289
528
631
863
573
425
253
Wind (km/h)
20
NNW
20
N
10
NNW
15
NW
10
NNW
10
WNW
15
WNW
15
W
20
WSW
20
W
30
WSW
30
WNW
25
WNW
25
W
35
WNW
35
WNW
25
WSW
25
WSW
25
WSW
25
SSW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
High Tide
00:05AM2.82m
12:44PM2.54m
1:06AM2.57m
1:52PM2.49m
2:18AM2.43m
3:06PM2.53m
3:33AM2.43m
4:11PM2.65m
4:34AM2.52m
5:02PM2.83m
5:21AM2.66m
5:44PM3.03m
Low Tide
5:37PM0.97m
6:24AM0.96m
6:44PM1.16m
7:27AM1.11m
8:06PM1.25m
8:38AM1.15m
9:25PM1.21m
9:43AM1.09m
10:27PM1.08m
10:36AM0.96m
11:14PM0.92m
11:19AM0.79m
11:55PM0.76m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:26
5:28
5:31
5:31
5:33
5:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:52
9:51
9:50
9:47
9:46
9:45
9:44
 mm
3
1
1
1
1
1
4
Temp °C
13
12
15
17
15
14
14
13
15
16
15
15
15
15
14
15
15
16
16
17
Feels °C
9
8
14
15
13
13
12
11
11
13
12
11
11
12
8
9
11
13
13
14
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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