Bundoran Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you—this 16-day stretch for Bundoran is a tough one. For days on end, the wind is just wrong, the swell is small or sloppy, and it’s one of those runs where you’ll be checking the forecast more than the surf. The good news? There’s a couple of moments that could fire, but you’ll need patience.

First up, there’s nothing worth paddling out for from now until the end of the third week of August. The early days are a write-off: Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th have tiny waves around 2 ft to 3 ft with cross-onshore winds, and the energy is weak (combined energy of all swells directed here around 37 to 83). It’s small and choppy. Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th are similar—messy, onshore, and not worth your time. Wednesday the 19th sees a bigger push of swell, up to 8 ft, and the combined energy jumps to 1736, but it’s hammered by a fresh cross-onshore wind at 22 mph and rain. That’s a windy mess, not a surf day. Thursday the 20th has 7 ft swell with strong NW winds, but the conditions are poor. Friday the 21st through to Sunday the 23rd are small again, with the occasional glassy morning on the 23rd but only 1 ft of swell—not enough to surf.

Now, here’s the standout. Tuesday the 25th of August is the best on offer. The morning kicks off with clear skies, glassy conditions (light ESE wind at 3 mph), and a clean 5 ft swell from the west at 11 seconds—a long-period groundswell that will wrap around the point. The combined energy is moderate at 596, and the conditions are described as "very good." This is the one to circle on your calendar. The afternoon stays glassy with the same 5 ft swell. Bundoran is a reef break, exposed to the NW, with a SE offshore wind direction that cleans it up nicely. The optimum swell is from the NW, and we’re getting a W swell, so it’s a bit angled but with that glassy wind, it’ll be fun. Crowds can be a hassle here, so expect company if you head out. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no drama there—just your usual wetsuit.

Wednesday the 26th morning is also glassy (NW wind at 3 mph) with 4 ft swell from the west and a 10-second period. The combined energy is 301, and conditions are "good." Not as punchy as Tuesday, but still clean. The afternoon turns onshore, so get it early.

Then there’s another sniff of clean surf late in the run. Friday the 28th of August morning is glassy again (NNW wind at 3 mph) with a 5 ft swell from the WNW at 9 seconds. The combined energy is 471, and conditions are "good." The wind dies early, but the afternoon picks up a moderate onshore, so it’s a morning-only window. The calm before the wind.

Sunday the 30th morning has a solid 8 ft swell from the west at 10 seconds, with combined energy at 1087, but there’s a gentle cross-onshore wind that’ll put a bit of chop on it. It’s marginal, but if you’re desperate, it’s the biggest swell of the whole run. For most, it’ll be a bit lumpy.

So, in short: the first week is almost a total loss. Tuesday the 25th is your best bet—clean, glassy, and a decent 5 ft west swell. Friday the 28th morning is another solid option. After that, the forecast gets hazy, so keep an eye on it. Stay patient, mates.

Rusty.

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