Surf Forecasts:
Crab Island surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 15 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, W swell with 1,816 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 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Crab Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Right, let’s have a look at the run ahead. We’ve got plenty of swell on the charts, but the wind is the wild card. For the first stretch, it’s mostly a mess of cross-onshore slop. If you’re keen, you’ll need to be selective and patient.
The first bit of light appears on Thursday the 19th. Crab Island (Clare) gets a cleaner look with a 7ft swell from the WSW, around 9-second periods. It’s a reef break, exposed to the swell, fairly consistent, and you won’t be alone. The water is 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year. The surf reports say it’s marginal, but after the junk that precedes it, it feels like a gift.
The real day to wait for is Monday the 21st. This is the gem. The wind drops right out, leaving us with glassy conditions – light ESE airs in the morning and dead calm in the afternoon. The swell is a clean 5ft to 5ft out of the west, with a lovely 11-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, with combined readings of 639 and 563 – decent, solid power. Crab Island will be clean, lined up, and the kind of session you remember. It’s an advanced reef, so it’ll have some grunt, but with the conditions on offer, it’s the pick of the entire period.
Then the wind swings back onshore for the 22nd and 23rd. The morning of the 23rd has a cross-off SSE breeze and 6ft of west swell at 12 seconds, but it stays marginal. The 24th is a big wash-out. A huge pulse of energy – up to 3060 on the morning of the 25th... wait, that’s the 24th. There’s 10ft of west swell at 14 seconds, but the wind is screaming at 45 km/h from the west. That’s just full onshore chaos. Not worth the paddle.
There’s a short window on the morning of the 25th with a clean cross-off SSE wind and 5ft of west swell, but again, only marginal. The 26th brings more 7ft west swell, but the westerly winds are back on it, making everything lumpy.
So, bottom line: the first week is a survival test. The day to make plans around is Monday the 21st – get out for that glassy morning session. The mornings of the 19th and 23rd are the fallbacks, but keep your expectations in check. This one’s for the surfer who’s willing to wait for the clean window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Fri night, light winds from the WSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSW on Mon morning, strong winds from the NW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 | W 8 | WNW 13 | W 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 12 | WNW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 320 | 278 | 468 | 1193 | 512 | 360 | 248 | 173 | 154 | 183 | 336 | 431 | 882 | 1618 | 1540 | 831 | 510 | 469 | 1156 | 1187 | 1497 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 6:13PM4.70m | 6:40AM4.52m | 6:51PM4.69m | 7:14AM4.49m | 7:27PM4.56m | 7:48AM4.37m | 8:02PM4.33m | 8:21AM4.16m | 8:38PM4.02m | 8:55AM3.90m | 9:15PM3.68m | 9:32AM3.60m | 9:59PM3.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:18PM0.52m | 2:34AM0.69m | 2:52PM0.83m | 3:07AM1.06m | 3:30PM1.18m | 3:44AM1.43m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | 8:04 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:49 | — |
mm | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 13 | — | WSW 10 | WNW 12 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | WNW 11 | — | — | — | W 12 | WNW 13 |
| kJ | 320 | 278 | 468 | — | 512 | 311 | 248 | 173 | 34 | 16 | 85 | — | — | — | — | 831 | — | — | — | 1187 | 1497 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WNW 12 | — | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | — | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 393 | — | 133 | 88 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 8 | W 10 | — | WSW 9 | — | — | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 11 | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 298 | 1193 | — | 360 | — | — | 154 | 183 | 336 | 431 | 882 | 1618 | 1540 | — | 510 | 469 | 1156 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 143 | 92 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 67 | 101 | 101 | 27 | 143 | 299 | 1072 | 1374 | 401 | 97 | 498 | 565 | 596 | 617 | 97 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Clare | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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