Surf Forecasts:
Back Strands surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 10 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 10s period, WNW swell with 523 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 10 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s 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 10) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 1.6m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Mon 10th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Back Strands over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the Back Strands area.
First up, the water temp is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice little bonus if you're in a spring suit.
Honestly, mate, it's a pretty bleak 16 days ahead. The whole forecast period is a long run of "poor surf conditions" with a few tiny windows of barely surfable waves. There's a three-day gap from the start of the forecast right through to the morning of the 10th of August where the guidance just doesn't give anything worth paddling out for. The first real chance you get is on Monday morning, the 10th.
The best on offer, and I'm scraping the barrel here, is the Monday afternoon session on the 10th of August. The swell is tiny, only 2ft from the WNW, but the wind is glassy. That's the key. The combined energy is a measly 61 (weak), but with a glassy surface, you might snag a few clean, knee-high waves. It's the only time in the whole outlook the wind goes completely off. It won't be epic, but it'll be the most pleasant of a rough bunch.
For the rest of the first week, you've got a bit of lumpy, cross-onshore junk from Saturday through to Sunday, with the wind messing up any chance of quality. The swell picks up a bit on the 13th, hitting 5ft from the W with moderate energy (470), but it's accompanied by a fresh cross-shore wind that's gonna make it a lumpy, choppy mess. That's more of a kite-surfing setup than a clean paddle session.
The second week looks even more grim. The swell is inconsistent, mostly below 3ft, and the wind is onshore or cross-onshore for the vast majority of the time. The morning of the 18th of August offers a small pulse of 3ft from the WNW with clean cross-offshore winds, but the energy is low (112) and the period is short (8 seconds). It's a session for the longboard if you're desperate.
Nothing here is a standout. The forecast is a long, flat, and often windy stretch. Best to keep your eye on the charts and hope for a change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | WNW 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 198 | 523 | 441 | 265 | 203 | 251 | 225 | 194 | 122 | 65 | 45 | 31 | 9 | 8 | 59 | 32 | 28 | 21 | 141 | 158 | 116 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:58PM2.63m | 1:30AM2.67m | 2:23PM2.69m | 3:01AM2.68m | 3:43PM2.92m | 4:18AM2.84m | 4:48PM3.24m | 5:19AM3.04m | 5:41PM3.57m | 6:10AM3.21m | 6:28PM3.84m | 6:55AM3.32m | 7:11PM4.00m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:03PM1.08m | 7:52AM0.97m | 8:42PM1.01m | 9:16AM0.88m | 10:04PM0.77m | 10:22AM0.67m | 11:06PM0.47m | 11:16AM0.43m | 11:58PM0.19m | 12:02PM0.22m | 00:44AM-0.01m | 12:45PM0.08m | 1:26AM-0.10m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:13 | — | — | 9:09 |
mm | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | WNW 10 | W 10 | WNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 4 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 198 | 523 | 441 | 265 | 203 | 251 | 225 | 194 | 122 | 65 | 45 | 31 | 8 | 8 | 59 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 141 | 158 | 116 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 11 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | N 6 | W 11 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 21 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 2 | — | SE 3 | SSE 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 145 | 3 | 10 | 36 | 27 | 12 | 53 | 36 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 36 | 7 | 36 | 53 | 7 | 53 | 127 | 36 |
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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