Surf Forecasts:
Crab Island surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, WNW swell with 4,756 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 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Crab Island over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's talk surf. It's been a rough stretch, and it's gonna stay that way for a bit. The ocean has some size, but the wind has been junk – mostly onshore and cross-onshore slop. We're looking at a lot of lumpy, messy conditions for the next week and a half. There are moments where the swell gets over 6 feet, but it's raw and blown-out. Not a surfer’s window.
But the long-range charts are starting to show something better. Around the 23rd, the wind finally starts to back off, and we get some lighter, cleaner conditions. Swell is small, but it's clean. That's the turn.
The big one, the one to circle on the calendar, is the 26th. That morning, Crab Island is going to light up. We're talking about a clean 6-foot of WNW swell, with a light offshore wind. The kind of morning where the ocean feels like glass. The swell energy is strong, around 1633, and the period is up at 15 seconds. That's proper groundswell, the kind that has power and shape. This is the best on offer.
The following morning, the 27th, is also good. The swell is a bit smaller, around 5 feet, but it's still clean with a light offshore. The period is still long, around 12 seconds. It'll be a solid session.
Going into the 28th, there's still a clean 5-foot swell, but the period has dropped to 11 seconds. It's still surfable, but it might not have the same punch.
Water temp is 61°F, just a touch warmer than average for this time of year. And keep in mind that Crab Island takes the full brunt of the swell. It's a spot that can get busy, so be prepared for some company. That 15-second period on the 26th is a long-period swell, which can sometimes wall up at the beach, but if the banks are right, it'll be amazing.
So, if you can wait it out, the 26th is the day. Everything else is just a build-up or a let-down.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Sun morning, strong winds from the SW by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the W on Wed morning, strong winds from the WSW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 7 | W 9 | W 11 | WNW 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 259 | 177 | 147 | 128 | 172 | 601 | 607 | 710 | 1439 | 800 | 494 | 378 | 847 | 2316 | 4423 | 2637 | 1863 | 1509 | 963 | 605 | 1631 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 10:19AM3.30m | 10:57PM3.02m | 11:27AM3.06m | 00:21AM2.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:18PM1.52m | 4:37AM1.76m | 5:46PM1.78m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — |
 | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | W 11 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 13 |
| kJ | 259 | 177 | 147 | 128 | 172 | — | — | — | 1439 | 800 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 605 | 1631 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — |
| kJ | 133 | 88 | 33 | 15 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 251 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | — | — | W 10 | W 7 | W 9 | W 11 | WNW 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 11 | W 10 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 601 | 607 | 710 | — | — | 494 | 378 | 847 | 2316 | 4423 | 2637 | 1863 | 1509 | 963 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 98 | 16 | 16 | 143 | 138 | 617 | 617 | 498 | 343 | 97 | 558 | 565 | 565 | 608 | 97 | 97 | 627 | 162 | 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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