Fanad Head Reef surf break

Fanad Head Reef surfForecast / Donegal / Ireland

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Wednesday 06 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
11.0° 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 06) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Fanad Head Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 11) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Wed 6th May)3.5ft (1.0m) 10s
Best Surf 7AM (Wed 13th May)6.5ft (2.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 4PM (Mon 11th May)10ft (3.0m) 10s

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

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Fri night, min 6°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Sun morning, strong winds from the N by Sun night).

Wednesday
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
Tuesday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
N
10
0.9
NNW
10
0.7
N
9
0.6
N
9
1.2
WNW
8
1.4
WNW
8
1.6
WNW
8
1
NW
13
2
NNW
11
2.2
NNW
11
2.2
NNW
10
1.8
N
10
1.3
N
11
1
N
10
1.9
NNW
7
3
NNW
9
3
NNW
10
2.5
NNW
9
1.3
N
10
1.7
NW
7
1.8
WNW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
206
160
83
60
172
244
338
342
903
1100
896
653
388
194
311
1312
1855
969
326
293
353
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
10
NNW
15
S
25
S
20
SW
20
SW
25
W
20
WNW
25
N
35
N
35
NNE
25
NNE
10
N
15
WNW
45
N
15
NE
25
NNE
30
N
30
NNW
20
NW
5
NW
glassy
on
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
9:23AM2.63m
9:46PM2.76m
10:02AM2.44m
10:33PM2.58m
10:51AM2.26m
11:33PM2.45m
11:59AM2.14m
00:47AM2.40m
1:24PM2.12m
2:01AM2.47m
2:41PM2.24m
3:03AM2.64m
3:40PM2.45m
3:54AM2.86m
Low Tide
3:24PM0.78m
3:58AM0.93m
4:05PM0.93m
4:49AM1.11m
4:56PM1.06m
5:56AM1.21m
6:04PM1.15m
7:19AM1.19m
7:24PM1.14m
8:32AM1.03m
8:35PM1.02m
9:27AM0.80m
9:33PM0.83m
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:39
5:37
5:35
5:33
5:31
5:30
5:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:15
9:16
9:19
9:21
9:22
9:24
9:27
5
2
1
Temp °C
8
8
7
13
12
9
9
9
9
8
8
8
7
9
8
8
9
9
8
8
8
5
5
4
8
7
4
3
3
3
-1
-1
1
3
4
3
1
0
0
1
2
4
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
N
10
0.9
NNW
10
0.7
N
9
0.7
W
6
1.2
WNW
8
1.4
WNW
8
1.6
WNW
8
1.3
WNW
8
2
NNW
11
0.4
NW
12
0.3
WNW
11
0.3
WNW
11
1.3
N
11
1
N
10
0.2
WNW
9
0.2
WNW
14
1.3
N
10
0.6
N
9
0.3
N
9
Energy kJ
206
160
83
38
172
244
338
249
903
35
24
23
388
194
8
19
326
61
14
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
NW
8
0.6
WNW
8
0.4
WNW
8
0.6
N
9
0.5
N
9
0.4
NNW
9
0.4
NNW
14
1
NW
13
0.4
WNW
12
0.2
WNW
10
0.5
NW
7
1
WNW
8
0.1
W
19
0.1
W
18
Energy kJ
69
43
24
60
45
29
78
342
58
10
24
136
7
6
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NW
16
0.3
NNW
9
0.4
NNW
10
0.2
WNW
10
0.3
NW
13
Energy kJ
10
16
31
9
25
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
NNW
11
2.2
NNW
10
1.8
N
10
1.9
NNW
7
3
NNW
9
3
NNW
10
2.5
NNW
9
1.7
NW
7
1.8
WNW
8
Energy kJ
1100
896
653
311
1312
1855
969
293
353
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
3
1
1
4
2
2
1
2
1
Distance (km)
0
58
0
0
13
23
263
284
124
556
126
95
44
5
335
27
126
124
344
313
18
Best forecast wave conditions in Donegal
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
2
2
2
3
1
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
1
2
3
1
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
7
5
5
6
7
7
6
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
7
9
9
9
9
9
  • 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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