Fanad Head Reef surf break

Fanad Head Reef surfForecast / Donegal / Ireland

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Wednesday 27 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
11.9° 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 Wednesday (May 27) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fanad Head Reef in the next 16 days are 1.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 31) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (May 27) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Wed 27th May)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Best Surf10PM (Fri 29th May)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sun 31st May)4.5ft (1.4m) 12s

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

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 20°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
Friday
29
Saturday
30
Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
2
1
1
0
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
NW
10
0.6
W
10
0.4
WNW
9
0.3
WNW
9
0.3
WNW
8
0.3
WNW
8
1.5
WSW
7
1.7
W
7
1.1
WNW
8
0.8
W
8
1
W
9
1.2
W
12
1.4
W
12
1.3
W
12
1
W
11
0.9
W
11
0.8
W
10
0.7
W
10
1.1
W
12
1.1
W
12
1.2
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
142
70
28
16
14
13
198
290
151
89
173
380
535
456
248
188
138
92
356
336
338
Wind (km/h)
10
E
20
ESE
15
ESE
20
SE
20
SSE
20
SSE
35
SW
35
WSW
15
SSE
25
SSE
15
S
15
S
25
WSW
30
WSW
10
SSE
10
SW
15
E
15
WNW
20
WNW
20
NW
15
SW
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
High Tide
4:48PM2.71m
5:02AM2.88m
5:27PM2.85m
5:41AM2.91m
6:03PM2.96m
6:17AM2.93m
6:37PM3.04m
6:52AM2.94m
7:11PM3.08m
7:27AM2.92m
7:45PM3.09m
8:02AM2.86m
8:21PM3.05m
Low Tide
10:31AM0.62m
10:44PM0.69m
11:09AM0.56m
11:26PM0.61m
11:44AM0.51m
00:04AM0.55m
12:18PM0.49m
00:41AM0.51m
12:52PM0.48m
1:17AM0.50m
1:26PM0.50m
1:53AM0.54m
2:01PM0.53m
2:30AM0.61m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
cloud
cloud
mod rain
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:03
5:01
5:01
5:00
4:58
4:58
4:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:52
9:52
9:54
9:55
9:58
9:59
10:00
1
4
2
1
1
8
8
1
Temp °C
18
20
17
18
19
15
14
14
13
12
16
13
14
14
14
15
15
13
12
12
12
16
18
14
15
17
12
7
7
10
8
14
11
8
9
14
14
13
13
9
8
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
NW
10
0.6
W
10
0.4
WNW
9
0.3
WNW
9
0.3
WNW
8
0.3
WNW
8
0.3
NW
9
0.1
W
18
1.1
WNW
8
0.8
W
8
1
W
9
1.2
W
12
1.4
W
12
1.3
W
12
1
W
11
0.9
W
11
0.8
W
10
0.7
W
10
1.1
W
12
1.1
W
12
1.2
W
11
Energy kJ
142
70
28
16
14
13
13
6
151
89
173
380
535
456
248
188
138
92
356
336
338
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
19
0.5
NNW
7
0.4
NW
7
0.2
NNW
6
0.2
NNW
6
0.1
NW
10
0.2
W
14
0.3
W
11
0.5
NW
7
0.6
WNW
13
0.2
NNW
10
0.2
N
10
0.2
N
10
0.2
N
9
0.2
N
9
0.2
N
9
0.2
N
8
0.2
N
8
0.2
N
7
0.1
N
6
Energy kJ
7
26
11
4
3
4
14
21
26
129
10
7
7
7
7
6
5
5
4
1
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
19
0.1
W
18
0.2
ENE
5
0.2
ENE
5
0.1
N
6
0.2
W
9
0.2
WNW
15
0.1
N
10
0.1
W
14
0.2
WNW
16
0.1
W
18
0.1
N
9
Energy kJ
7
6
2
2
1
6
22
2
4
24
6
2
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
4
0.3
ESE
2
1.5
WSW
7
1.7
W
7
0.3
S
2
Energy kJ
1
1
198
290
1
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
Distance (km)
0
12
5
260
583
35
373
555
0
0
5
16
152
128
0
0
0
87
128
388
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Donegal
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
3
2
1
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
4
3
2
2
2
2
3
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
6
6
7
9
6
5
5
5
4
7
6
5
5
4
4
6
7
4
4
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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