Bundoran Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next two weeks for Bundoran. Bundoran is a reef break, and we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

The first few days are pretty lackluster. We start on Friday the 11th with some chest-high swell at 4ft to 4ft from the west, but the wind is a mess. Friday morning is a cross-on mess with weak energy (205), so it’s not worth paddling out. Friday afternoon cleans up a little with a cross-off breeze, and the swell pushes up to a clean 4ft, but it’s still only a small, short-period wave. It’s surfable, but nothing to get excited about. The weekend is a write-off, Saturday the 12th brings a 7ft west swell but it’s lumpy and choppy with strong winds. Not worth it.

Sunday the 13th morning is the first real glimmer. We get a 3ft WNW groundswell with 11-second period and glassy, offshore wind from the SE. That’s clean and lined up for the reef, and the energy is weak (267), so it will be a fun, small session for a longboard or a fish. The afternoon stays clean, but the swell drops off.

Monday the 14th is small and ordinary.

Then we hit a rough patch. From Tuesday the 15th through Thursday the 17th, the wind is howling onshore or cross-on, with building swell. The swell hits 8ft with 13-second period on Thursday the 17th and energy is very strong (2005), but it’s blown out and choppy. That big swell is for the windsurfers, not for us.

Friday the 18th morning shows some promise again. The swell drops back to a clean 6ft with a 12-second period and a cross-off breeze from the SSW. The energy is moderate (833) and it will be a much cleaner wave, but the tide might make it tricky. It’s a solid option for intermediates.

Now, the standout is Saturday the 19th. This is the one. We get a massive 13ft to 16ft west swell rolling in. Saturday morning has a 13ft west swell with a 12-second period and a light cross-off breeze, and the energy is massive (4966). That’s a serious groundswell. Saturday afternoon pushes it even bigger: 16ft from the WNW with a 15-second period and energy hitting 10048. The wind stays cross-shore. This is a heavy, powerful, very long-period swell. For a reef like Bundoran, this will be a proper big-wave day. The period is over 15 seconds, so the sets will be long and the gaps between them big. This is only for experienced, confident surfers. For the average bloke, it’s a spectator sport. If you are an expert, Saturday the 19th afternoon is the best session of the whole 16 days.

Sunday the 20th is a mess with strong onshore winds, and the swell is still big but unrideable.

The following week (21st to 26th) is less certain but still has some potential. Monday the 21st has a solid 12ft swell but with cross-on wind. Tuesday the 22nd morning looks clean with a small 5ft swell and light winds. Wednesday the 23rd afternoon brings another big pulse: 15ft from the WNW with a 12-second period and moderate cross-shore wind, energy is very strong (5060). Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th have clean-ish 8ft to 8ft swells but with a cross-on element that will make them a bit bumpy.

Then, the very end of the period, Saturday the 26th morning looks exceptional. It’s a 13ft west swell with a 14-second period and glassy conditions, energy is enormous (6184). Glassy, huge, and perfectly lined up. Another expert-only session, but it’s the kind of day you dream about. This one is a long way out, so keep your fingers crossed.

Overall, the best on offer is Saturday the 19th, especially the afternoon, for experts. The next best is Sunday the 13th morning for a clean, small session. The second week (21st-26th) is a promising but less certain window of bigger swells, with Saturday the 26th being a potential stand-out if the glass holds.

Rusty

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