Fanad Head Reef surf break

Fanad Head Reef surfForecast / Donegal / Ireland

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Friday 26 Dec 2025 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
9.4° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Fanad Head Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Fanad Head Reef over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Dec 27) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fanad Head Reef in the next 12 days are 2.2m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jan 02) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Dec 27) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Sat 27th Dec)2ft (0.6m) 11s
Best Surf 3AM (Sun 28th Dec)3ft (0.9m) 12s
Most Powerful12AM (Fri 2nd Jan)7ft (2.2m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fanad Head Reef over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Mild temperatures (max 6°C on Fri afternoon, min 3°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Tue night, min 4°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Mon night, fresh winds from the NW by Thu morning).

Fri
26
Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
31
Thursday
01
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
0
0
2
2
2
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.7
WNW
0.7
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.8
NW
0.6
WNW
0.7
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.5
WNW
0.4
NW
0.5
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.6
WNW
0.5
WNW
0.4
WNW
1.7
NNW
2.1
NNW
2.2
NNW
1.6
NNW
Period(s) (?)12121110121016141313121615141312126789
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)15013790779911317318313713383661231451358546218444642395
Wind
(km/h)
20
ENE
10
E
5
ESE
20
ESE
15
ESE
15
ESE
5
ESE
0
E
15
NNE
20
NNE
10
SE
10
SSW
15
WSW
25
NNW
20
N
25
NNW
25
NNW
35
NW
35
NW
30
WNW
40
WSW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
glasscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
crossonononononcross-
on
cross-
on
cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
10:15PM
2.47
10:41AM
2.81
11:15PM
2.40
11:41AM
2.74
12:26AM
2.40
12:53PM
2.71
1:43AM
2.50
2:09PM
2.77
2:53AM
2.70
3:19PM
2.89
3:54AM
2.94
4:21PM
3.05
4:49AM
3.20
Low Tide
/ height (m)
4:09PM
0.72
4:11AM
0.76
5:05PM
0.77
5:11AM
0.86
6:10PM
0.79
6:24AM
0.92
7:20PM
0.75
7:42AM
0.86
8:29PM
0.66
8:56AM
0.70
9:31PM
0.52
10:00AM
0.48
10:26PM
0.37
10:57AM
0.27
Fri
26
Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
31
Thursday
01
Sunrise--8:56--8:56--8:56--8:56--8:56--8:56--8:56
Sunset4:04--4:05--4:06--4:07--4:07--4:08--4:09--
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
Rain (mm)
------------------111
Temp. °C66544336664681098899910
Feels °C (?)132-1-1-1022103464111222
  • 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

Latest Updates

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.


false

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 12 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