Surf Forecasts:
Inch Reefs surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with 613 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 11s period with W 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 11s period. 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 2.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 10s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inch Reefs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk in feet and inches.
Honestly, it’s a grim picture for Inch Reefs for a long time. We’ve got a dead stretch of about a week and a half, from right now until around the 26th of August, where there’s just no surf to speak of. The energy is weak, the wind is all wrong, and the swell is either tiny or from a lousy direction.
Your first chance to get wet will be on the morning of Saturday the 22nd. We’ll see a small 1ft swell out of the SW, with a 15-second period – that’s a proper groundswell, so the energy is there, but the sets will be far apart. The good news is a light NE wind, blowing offshore, will keep the faces clean. The combined energy is only 103 (moderate), so it’s not going to be epic, but it’s surfable. It’s small and clean, which is a plus.
The Sunday morning the 23rd is similar: 1ft from the SW, 14-second period, with a moderate NE offshore breeze. Still clean, still small. The energy drops to 92 (weak).
The water temp is about 65°F, which is over 4°F warmer than average for this time of year. That’s notable – it’s unusually warm.
Now, the big one. Friday the 28th of August. The afternoon swings in a massive 10ft swell from the W, with an 11-second period. The combined energy is an enormous 2814 (very strong). That is a lot of power. But the wind is from the W at 15 km/h (9 mph), a cross-on breeze, and that’s going to chop it up. The forecast is clear – this swell is just too big for this break. It’s an advanced reef break, and 10ft with that energy will be a washing machine. Only the most experienced should even think about it. The morning of the 28th is also big at 8ft, but still messy.
If you’re a kiter, that afternoon on the 28th might be your playground.
So, the standout for a clean, quiet wave is Saturday the 22nd of August at Inch Reefs. It’s not big, but the offshore wind makes it the best option. For big-wave hunters, the 28th of August is the one to watch, but it’s a beast and conditions will be rough. The swell direction (W) isn’t ideal for the break, either.
After that, the 31st offers another 10ft W swell, but again, the wind is onshore and the conditions are poor. It’s a bust.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sun night, fresh winds from the W by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Wed morning, light winds from the ENE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 5 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | W 8 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | W 10 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
42 | 321 | 224 | 95 | 72 | 211 | 355 | 28 | 46 | 25 | 24 | 61 | 21 | 54 | 37 | 29 | 24 | 74 | 55 | 55 | 56 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 8:01PM3.48m | 8:27AM3.25m | 8:40PM3.22m | 9:06AM3.03m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:41PM0.29m | 2:05AM0.20m | 2:20PM0.48m | 2:42AM0.47m | 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 | ||||||||
6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:50 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | N 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | WNW 6 | W 10 | WSW 9 | SW 15 |
77 | 321 | 224 | 95 | 72 | 10 | 27 | 28 | 46 | 25 | 24 | 61 | 784 | 346 | 179 | 109 | 51 | 26 | 48 | 28 | 56 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | SW 16 | N 7 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 | WSW 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 10 | NW 7 | SW 15 | WSW 9 |
2 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 41 | 37 | 24 | 23 | 74 | 11 | 55 | 16 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | S 12 | S 11 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SSW 14 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | N 7 | SW 15 | NW 6 | NW 8 |
6 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 54 | 19 | 29 | 24 | 8 | 55 | 6 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 5 | — | — | — | SW 3 | W 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 4 | N 5 |
42 | — | — | — | 5 | 211 | 355 | 1032 | 1807 | 2106 | 1941 | 1980 | 807 | 599 | 256 | 103 | 58 | 33 | 23 | 16 | 53 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 14 | 187 | 15 | 27 | 634 | 15 | 1459 | 398 | 398 | 458 | 464 | 367 | 565 | 392 | 7 | 98 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Kerry | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











