Fanad Head Reef surf break

Fanad Head Reef surfForecast / Donegal / Ireland

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 am Thursday 01 Jan 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
8.7° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)


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 Monday (Jan 05) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fanad Head Reef in the next 12 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jan 01) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jan 07) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Mon 5th Jan)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Best Surf 9PM (Mon 5th Jan)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Most Powerful 6PM (Thu 1st Jan)10ft (3.0m) 13s

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 Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Thu morning, min 4°C on Fri afternoon). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NNW on Fri night, moderate winds from the NNW by Sat night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun night. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Tue afternoon, min 1°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sun night, light winds from the N by Mon afternoon).

Thursday
01
Friday
02
Saturday
03
Sunday
04
Monday
05
Tuesday
06
Wednesday
07
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
3
NNW
3
NNW
3
NNW
3
NNW
3
NNW
2.5
NNW
3
NNW
2.4
NNW
1.9
NNW
1.5
NNW
1.6
NNW
1.8
NNW
1.4
NNW
0.7
N
0.9
NNW
0.7
NNW
0.5
N
0.8
WNW
0.7
NW
1.2
W
1.7
WNW
Period(s) (?)10111299898877779109991289
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1734220021191317123010241232819441218229353168901638239115144177417
Wind
(km/h)
45
NNW
45
NNW
40
NNW
45
NNW
50
NNW
50
NNW
45
N
40
N
30
NNW
25
NNW
35
NW
35
NW
30
N
15
N
15
SSE
20
S
15
WSW
15
WSW
30
SSE
35
NW
30
WSW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
onononononononononononcross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
offoffcrosscross-
off
offcross-
on
cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
4:21PM
3.05
4:49AM
3.20
5:15PM
3.17
5:39AM
3.42
6:05PM
3.24
6:27AM
3.57
6:52PM
3.24
7:13AM
3.64
7:36PM
3.16
7:57AM
3.60
8:19PM
3.02
8:41AM
3.46
9:01PM
2.85
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:00AM
0.48
10:26PM
0.37
10:57AM
0.27
11:16PM
0.23
11:49AM
0.11
12:03AM
0.12
12:38PM
0.02
12:48AM
0.06
1:25PM
0.03
1:31AM
0.08
2:11PM
0.13
2:14AM
0.17
2:56PM
0.28
2:56AM
0.33
Thursday
01
Friday
02
Saturday
03
Sunday
04
Monday
05
Tuesday
06
Wednesday
07
Sunrise8:56--8:56--8:56--8:56--8:55--8:55--8:53--
Sunset-4:09--4:12--4:13--4:14--4:15--4:16--4:17-
cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
Rain (mm)
-14--22132-5----21311
Temp. °C776554555677654288599
Feels °C (?)-4-4-6-7-7-8-5-6-4-2-2-2-300-433-212
  • 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