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Surf Forecasts:

Fanad Head Reef surfForecast / Donegal / Ireland
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
12.0° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)Fanad Head Reef surf forecast from 30 May 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 4 Jun, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 4 Jun, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, W swell with 4,908 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 30 May, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s period with W swell.
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 Saturday (May 30) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jun 04) 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 2s period and expected on Wednesday (Jun 03) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sat 30th May) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 4th Jun) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 4th Jun) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Fanad Head Reef over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Wed night, calm by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 30 | Sunday 31 | Monday 1 | Tuesday 2 | Wednesday 3 | Thursday 4 | Friday 5 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
W 9 | W 10 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 14 | W 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | |
74 | 188 | 266 | 400 | 472 | 253 | 149 | 106 | 68 | 60 | 58 | 87 | 272 | 347 | 872 | 4283 | 4595 | 2708 | 1379 | 817 | 483 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | off | off | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | |
High Tide | 6:17AM2.93m | 6:37PM3.04m | 6:52AM2.94m | 7:11PM3.08m | 7:27AM2.92m | 7:45PM3.09m | 8:02AM2.86m | 8:21PM3.05m | 8:37AM2.77m | 8:59PM2.98m | 9:13AM2.66m | 9:38PM2.88m | 9:51AM2.53m | 10:20PM2.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:18PM0.49m | 00:41AM0.51m | 12:52PM0.48m | 1:17AM0.50m | 1:26PM0.50m | 1:53AM0.54m | 2:01PM0.53m | 2:30AM0.61m | 2:36PM0.59m | 3:08AM0.71m | 3:13PM0.66m | 3:49AM0.81m | 3:51PM0.74m | ||||||||
5:00 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 4:56 | — | — | 4:56 | — | — | 4:54 | — | — | 4:54 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:59 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:02 | — | — | 10:04 | |
3 | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | 17 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 7 | 7 | 3 | — | |
Temp °C | 13 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 |
9 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 10 | W 12 | NNW 10 | N 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | W 13 | W 12 | WNW 16 | — | — | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 |
74 | 188 | 266 | 18 | 6 | 253 | 149 | 106 | 68 | 60 | 58 | 87 | 272 | 347 | 147 | — | — | 2708 | 1379 | 817 | 483 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | WNW 12 | NNW 10 | — | — | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | WNW 15 | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
27 | 123 | 18 | — | — | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 15 | NNW 11 | — | — | — | N 10 | — | W 15 | W 14 | — | W 18 | N 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
22 | 11 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 4 | 4 | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 12 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | NNW 4 | — | SSE 2 | — | W 12 | W 14 | W 13 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 400 | 472 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 872 | 4283 | 4595 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 152 | 363 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 12 | 138 | 23 | 0 | 31 | 23 | 406 | 403 | 32 | 396 | 781 | 341 | 152 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Donegal | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











