Surf Forecasts:
Crab Island surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, W swell with 1,228 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Crab Island this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Crab Island in the next 16 days are 1.9m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Crab Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s see what’s cookin’.
First thing: the opening stretch is a total wash. From Tuesday the 8th all the way through to Wednesday the 16th, it’s just poor. Wind is mostly a strong cross-onshore mess, and the waves have no shape. Not worth wetting a suit.
The first real chance shows up on Thursday the 17th. Early morning goes glassy with a light easterly breeze. Swell is tiny though, just 3ft from the west with a 6-second period. Combined energy is weak at 91. It’s surfable if you’re keen, but it’s nothin’ special.
Friday the 18th morning brings a bit more size: 7ft from the west, 11-second period, with a gentle cross-shore breeze. Combined energy is moderate at 900. That’s a proper groundswell, but it’s over 5ft, so it’s a bit much for beginners. The afternoon gets messy again, so hit it early. Best of the first week, but still marginal.
The real standout is Saturday the 19th morning. We’ve got a 5ft west swell, 11-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE. That’s clean. Combined energy is moderate at 506. This is your window for Crab Island. It’s an advanced reef, exposed to the west swell, fairly consistent. Water temp is about average for the season. Clean conditions on a reef like that with long period could be real nice. Just remember, it’s an advanced spot, and crowds are likely.
Sunday the 20th and beyond? Wind picks up again. By Monday the 21st, we’re looking at a massive 8ft west swell with a 15-second period and a near gale cross-onshore. That’s a monster, but blown out. Combined energy is a huge 2797, so plenty of power, but only for the hardcore if you find shelter. For the rest of us, it’s a no-go.
Bottom line: Saturday the 19th morning is your best shot. Clean, solid, and a bit of magic. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NW on Tue morning, light winds from the WNW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 7 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 13 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 10 | WNW 11 | W 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 11 | W 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1041 | 940 | 492 | 220 | 156 | 108 | 388 | 763 | 481 | 371 | 399 | 1228 | 497 | 705 | 876 | 235 | 190 | 101 | 128 | 485 | 639 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 4:01PM4.02m | 4:39AM3.98m | 4:51PM4.35m | 5:24AM4.26m | 5:34PM4.59m | 6:03AM4.44m | 6:13PM4.70m | 6:40AM4.52m | 6:51PM4.69m | 7:14AM4.49m | 7:27PM4.56m | 7:48AM4.37m | 8:02PM4.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:24PM0.44m | 10:40AM0.61m | 11:07PM0.10m | 11:21AM0.33m | 11:46PM-0.11m | 11:59AM0.15m | 00:22AM-0.19m | 12:35PM0.08m | 00:57AM-0.12m | 1:10PM0.13m | 1:30AM0.06m | 1:44PM0.28m | 2:02AM0.35m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — |
 | — | 8:10 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:55 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 13 | W 7 | WSW 9 | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | — | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 8 | WNW 9 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 492 | 220 | 3 | 108 | 388 | — | — | 371 | 399 | 1228 | 426 | 506 | — | 235 | 190 | 101 | 33 | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | W 18 | — | — | — | — | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | 214 | 95 | 35 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | — | — | W 8 | SSE 3 | S 4 | WSW 10 | W 9 | — | — | — | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 10 | — | — | — | WSW 8 | W 11 | W 11 |
| kJ | 1041 | 940 | — | — | 156 | 2 | 13 | 763 | 481 | — | — | — | 497 | 705 | 876 | — | — | — | 128 | 485 | 639 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 393 | 1097 | 138 | 92 | 117 | 139 | 98 | 162 | 164 | 97 | 97 | 87 | 101 | 97 | 87 | 67 | 92 | 16 | 101 | 97 | 97 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Clare | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Crab Island surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Crab Island Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Crab Island provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Crab Island can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Crab Island 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 (Crab Island) 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 Crab Island 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 Clare? If you are looking for accommodation near Crab Island, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Clare, consider staying in Galway which is 35 km (22 miles) away. Other places in and around Clare where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Inis which is 35 km (22 miles) away, Shannon, Foynes and Limerick.
Nearest