Fanad Head Reef surf break

Fanad Head Reef surfForecast / Donegal / Ireland

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Sunday 24 May 2026 IST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Fanad Head Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Fanad Head Reef sea temperature is
11.8° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fanad Head Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Fanad Head Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 24) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fanad Head Reef in the next 16 days are 1.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (May 30) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Sun 24th May)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Mon 25th May)5ft (1.5m) 14s
Most Powerful 1AM (Mon 25th May)5ft (1.5m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fanad Head Reef over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
Friday
29
Saturday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
3
3
1
2
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
W
10
1.1
W
9
1.5
WNW
14
1.4
WNW
13
1.4
WNW
12
1.3
WNW
12
1.4
WNW
11
1.2
WNW
11
1
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
10
0.6
W
10
0.4
WNW
9
0.4
WNW
9
0.3
WNW
8
0.4
WNW
8
0.4
WNW
9
0.4
WNW
9
0.4
WNW
15
0.9
WNW
12
0.8
W
12
0.7
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
219
205
874
643
566
461
477
313
214
154
70
28
26
14
22
32
29
71
248
180
114
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
20
W
15
S
10
SW
15
WNW
5
NE
15
NE
20
NE
10
ENE
15
SE
25
SE
15
SE
20
SSE
10
W
10
SSE
5
N
10
N
10
SSE
10
SSE
15
SSE
10
SSE
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
off
glassy
cross-on
off
off
off
off
High Tide
1:55PM2.36m
2:23AM2.80m
3:05PM2.43m
3:26AM2.81m
4:02PM2.56m
4:18AM2.84m
4:48PM2.71m
5:02AM2.88m
5:27PM2.85m
5:41AM2.91m
6:03PM2.96m
6:17AM2.93m
6:37PM3.04m
Low Tide
7:42AM0.79m
7:47PM0.88m
8:51AM0.76m
8:57PM0.85m
9:46AM0.69m
9:55PM0.77m
10:31AM0.62m
10:44PM0.69m
11:09AM0.56m
11:26PM0.61m
11:44AM0.51m
00:04AM0.55m
12:18PM0.49m
00:41AM0.51m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:07
5:05
5:05
5:03
5:01
5:01
5:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:46
9:49
9:51
9:52
9:52
9:54
9:55
2
1
5
Temp °C
18
19
17
16
15
12
14
14
15
19
20
17
20
20
19
17
16
20
23
25
20
15
15
16
13
13
11
9
9
12
16
17
15
18
20
20
16
15
21
21
23
20
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
W
10
1.1
W
9
1.5
WNW
14
1.4
WNW
13
1.4
WNW
12
1.3
WNW
12
1.4
WNW
11
1.2
WNW
11
1
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
10
0.6
W
10
0.4
WNW
9
0.4
WNW
9
0.3
WNW
8
0.4
WNW
8
0.4
WNW
9
0.4
WNW
9
0.4
WNW
15
0.9
WNW
12
0.8
W
12
0.7
W
11
Energy kJ
219
205
874
643
566
461
477
313
214
154
70
28
26
14
22
32
29
71
248
180
114
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NW
17
0.1
W
19
0.1
W
19
0.4
NNW
7
0.4
NW
7
0.2
NNW
6
0.2
NNW
6
0.1
NW
10
0.1
W
17
0.1
W
18
0.4
WNW
8
0.4
NW
8
0.3
NW
8
0.2
WNW
8
Energy kJ
11
7
7
21
12
4
4
4
6
6
26
17
10
6
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
19
0.1
W
18
0.1
E
5
0.1
W
16
0.1
N
6
0.1
N
6
0.1
N
6
Energy kJ
7
6
1
5
1
1
1
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
NE
2
0.3
ENE
4
0.4
SSE
3
0.2
S
3
Energy kJ
1
3
2
1
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
Distance (km)
0
23
0
0
23
0
16
16
12
0
12
0
35
373
330
19
44
0
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Donegal
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
4
4
4
5
9
9
8
7
6
6
7
9
9
9
6
5
4
6
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Fanad Head Reef:

join our community of surf reporters

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 Fanad Head Reef 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 Fanad Head Reef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Fanad Head Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Fanad Head Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Fanad Head Reef 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 (Fanad Head Reef) 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 Fanad Head Reef 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.

Fanad Head Reef is 22 km (14 miles) from the city of Malin Head. If you plan a holiday in Donegal, look for hotels and other accommodation in Malin Head. Malin Head has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest