Fanad Head Reef surf break

Fanad Head Reef surfForecast / Donegal / Ireland

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Sunday 31 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
12.5° C
(Which is 1.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year)

Fanad Head Reef surf forecast from 31 May 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 31 May, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s period, W swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 5 Jun, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, WNW swell with 2,440 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 31 May, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s 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 Sunday (May 31) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 8s. 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 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jun 05) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Jun 06) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Sun 31st May)3.5ft (1.1m) 12s
Best Surf10PM (Sun 31st May)3.5ft (1.1m) 12s
Most Powerful 7AM (Fri 5th Jun)10ft (3.0m) 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

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Sun night, fresh winds from the SSE by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Wed afternoon, strong winds from the WSW by Fri morning).

Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
Friday
5
Saturday
6
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
W
12
1.3
W
12
1
W
11
0.9
W
11
0.8
W
10
1.1
W
10
0.9
W
9
0.6
W
9
0.9
W
10
1
W
13
1.2
W
12
1.1
W
12
1.6
W
11
1.9
W
12
3
WNW
12
3
WNW
11
2.3
WNW
10
1.5
WNW
9
1.5
W
10
1.7
W
11
1.5
WNW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
461
472
253
185
138
220
137
60
162
350
427
322
643
1100
2377
2166
1086
351
441
733
503
Wind (km/h)
25
WSW
25
W
15
SSE
10
SSW
15
SSE
15
SW
15
W
20
W
20
SW
25
S
20
SW
25
SW
35
SW
40
WSW
25
WSW
40
WSW
30
WSW
35
S
30
SW
35
WSW
40
SSW
cross
cross
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
10:35AM2.41m
11:06PM2.69m
Low Tide
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
4:33AM0.90m
4:34PM0.83m
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
clear
light rain
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
cloud
light rain
clear
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:58
4:58
4:56
4:56
4:54
4:54
4:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:58
9:59
10:00
10:01
10:02
10:04
10:05
1
4
1
1
1
4
3
3
3
1
1
4
5
Temp °C
14
14
14
15
15
13
13
13
12
14
13
12
11
12
11
12
13
12
13
13
11
9
9
13
14
14
10
11
10
8
10
10
7
5
4
5
4
8
5
6
5
4
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
NNW
10
1.3
W
12
1
W
11
0.9
W
11
0.8
W
10
1.1
W
10
0.9
W
9
0.6
W
9
0.9
W
10
1
W
13
1.2
W
12
1.1
W
12
0.6
W
14
1.9
W
12
2.3
WNW
10
1.5
WNW
9
1.5
W
10
1.7
W
11
1.5
WNW
11
Energy kJ
9
472
253
185
138
220
137
60
162
350
427
322
142
1100
1086
351
441
733
503
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
9
0.2
N
8
0.2
N
9
0.2
N
9
0.1
N
8
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
7
0.3
WNW
15
0.5
WNW
12
Energy kJ
6
4
6
6
1
1
1
43
77
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
10
0.1
W
18
0.1
N
7
Energy kJ
2
6
1
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
W
12
0.5
W
4
0.3
SSE
2
1.6
W
11
3
WNW
12
3
WNW
11
0.6
S
3
0.4
S
3
Energy kJ
461
6
1
643
2377
2166
8
3
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
3
4
2
4
3
2
1
1
Distance (km)
152
133
0
0
0
23
23
146
23
31
68
128
107
330
23
406
32
157
416
64
79
Best forecast wave conditions in Donegal
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
3
1
2
4
4
3
1
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
5
4
5
5
5
6
4
5
4
5
5
4
5
5
9
7
6
6
5
  • 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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