Surf Forecasts:
Inch Reefs surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SW swell with 1,419 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Inch Reefs this week:
The surf forecast for Inch Reefs over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Inch Reefs in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inch Reefs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Inch Reefs. I’ve got to be straight with you—this is a tough run. The whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off. There’s no standout session, no hidden gem hiding in the data. The first real chance to even think about a paddle doesn’t appear until Saturday 22 August, and even then, it’s barely worth getting wet for.
The overall pattern is grim. We’ve got a long stretch of tiny, short-period windswell or near-flat conditions, hammered by cross-onshore winds most days. The first few days from Tuesday 18 August through Friday 21 August are all sub-3ft rubbish with nasty wind, so don’t bother. The water temp at Inch Reefs is sitting at 65°, which is about 4° warmer than usual for this time of year—that’s a notable anomaly, but it’s not enough to make up for the lack of surf.
Saturday 22 August morning brings a whisper of hope: offshore wind from the NE at 6 mph, clean conditions, but the swell is only 1ft from the SW with a 15-second period. That’s a long-period groundswell, but it’s tiny. The combined energy is just 82 (weak), and the data says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” It’s a point break here at Inch Reefs, so that long period might line up okay, but with that size, you’re on a foamie or a log. Crowds are possible here sometimes, so you might have company for the knee-high dribble.
Sunday 23 August morning is similar—offshore NE breeze at 3 mph, glassy clean, but still only 1ft from the SW at 14 seconds. Combined energy 65 (weak). Again, “surfable but very ordinary.” This is the best on offer, and it’s not saying much.
Then we get another blank patch. Monday 24 August is cross-onshore junk. Tuesday 25 August morning sees a pulse of 8ft from the SW at 9 seconds—that’s too big for beginners and only for experts, but the wind is cross-on from the SSE at 9 mph, making it choppy. Combined energy jumps to 993 (strong), but the quality is “marginal.” That’s a big, messy, short-period swell on a point break—not ideal. After that, it’s back to tiny, weak, or onshore slop through to the end of the window on 2 September. There’s a couple of clean afternoons with cross-off wind on 30 August and 31 August, but the swell is 1ft to 4ft—again, nothing to get excited about.
So, the honest truth: there are no good surf options in this 16-day window. The best you can do is a clean, tiny glass-off on the 22nd or 23rd morning. If you’re desperate for a paddle, go then. Otherwise, the forecasts can change, and it tends not to stay this poor for long, but right now, this is a lean stretch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 10 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
438 | 28 | 46 | 25 | 24 | 61 | 21 | 54 | 39 | 39 | 38 | 31 | 56 | 55 | 56 | 51 | 51 | 52 | 51 | 49 | 1389 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:22PM2.93m | 9:48AM2.80m | 10:09PM2.65m | 10:37AM2.58m | 11:09PM2.42m | 11:44AM2.42m | 00:32AM2.29m | 1:11PM2.39m | 2:02AM2.33m | 2:29PM2.51m | 3:08AM2.50m | 3:24PM2.71m | 3:54AM2.70m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:00PM0.70m | 3:22AM0.76m | 3:45PM0.94m | 4:08AM1.04m | 4:43PM1.16m | 5:13AM1.26m | 6:10PM1.29m | 6:48AM1.35m | 7:47PM1.25m | 8:14AM1.27m | 8:54PM1.08m | 9:11AM1.09m | 9:41PM0.86m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | |
mm | — | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | WNW 10 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | SW 15 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 10 | SW 13 |
27 | 943 | 46 | 25 | 24 | 61 | 923 | 343 | 169 | 72 | 37 | 31 | 26 | 26 | 56 | 26 | 19 | 23 | 19 | 51 | 44 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | SSW 17 | N 7 | — | — | — | SSW 15 | WSW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | SSW 14 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 9 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NNW 6 | WSW 8 | NW 6 | SW 13 |
4 | 28 | 1 | — | — | — | 21 | 32 | 39 | 39 | 38 | 18 | 56 | 55 | 26 | 51 | 51 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 44 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | WNW 7 | SW 12 | WNW 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | — |
2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | 32 | 17 | 17 | 26 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 52 | 51 | 46 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | — | WNW 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 11 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SW 5 | SW 10 |
438 | — | 1585 | 1374 | 1665 | 1712 | 1298 | 792 | 412 | 209 | 157 | 160 | 77 | 74 | 71 | — | — | — | 3 | 49 | 1389 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 379 | 11 | 11 | 398 | 398 | 397 | 153 | 353 | 382 | 110 | 98 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 238 | 243 | 243 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Kerry | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Inch Reefs Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Inch Reefs provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Inch Reefs can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Inch Reefs 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 (Inch Reefs) 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 Inch Reefs 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Kerry? If you are looking for accommodation near Inch Reefs, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Kerry, consider staying in Fenit which is 18 km (11 miles) away. Other places in and around Kerry where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Tra Li which is 24 km (15 miles) away, Valentia, Bantry and Foynes.











