Surf Forecasts:
Inch Reefs surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 3 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, W swell with 2,883 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period with WNW 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Inch Reefs in the next 16 days are 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 03) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 11s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inch Reefs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty. Looks like we’ve got a lean spell coming up for Inch Reefs, but there are a couple of windows worth circling on the calendar.
The water is 64°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. A solid early pulse of swell arrives on Sunday the 30th with waist-chest high waves (6-7 ft) out of the WSW, period around 9 seconds, carrying moderate energy (619). But the offshore wind is actually from the SSW, so it’s not clean – it’s onshore, plus there’s a risk of thunderstorms, so the quality is shot. That pattern sticks through the week: onshore winds from the SW to WSW through Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with the swell building to a chunky 7-7 ft, period dropping to 8 seconds, wave energy moderate to solid (580-641). It’s windy and choppy, not good for a paddle.
Then come Thursday the 3rd – that’s the only real standout in the whole outlook. The swell jumps to a solid 12 ft from the W, with a long period of 12 seconds, producing very strong wave energy (3442). That’s proper groundswell. The morning wind is onshore from the SW, but the model notes that wind and tide are favourable for the break. At this size, 12 ft, it’s for experienced crew only – too big for beginners. This kind of long-period groundswell can race past beach breaks, but on a point setup like Inch Reefs, it’ll line up nicely. Expect longer lulls between sets, but the waves that come have real punch. Afternoon on Thursday though, the wind ramps up to 19 mph onshore and it turns to junk.
From Friday the 4th, the swell tanks hard – barely 1 ft and short-lived energy (53), with strong cross-onshore winds from the W and WNW. That stretch lasts a few days of nothing surfable until Saturday the 5th when a new pulse tries to push in at 6 ft from the WNW, period 10 seconds, moderate energy (599). But again the wind is cross-onshore from the SSE and the quality is marginal at best.
We hit another quiet few days from the 7th, but the week of September 12th offers a small, clean window. On Saturday the 12th, we get 4 ft from the W, period 11 seconds (long period), moderate energy (332) and glassy conditions in the morning with light east wind. That’s a lovely little session for the experienced – small, clean, and the break should hold shape. The afternoon stays clean with light cross-offshore winds from the N. That Saturday is the other standout: not big, but glassy and pleasant.
Beyond that, the wind stays light and clean through Sunday the 13th, but the swell drops to 3 ft, energy low (103), only ordinary waves. Then by Monday the 14th, it’s nearly flat with 1 ft.
So overall, we’ve got a big lump on Thursday the 3rd for the brave, and a small, glassy day on Saturday the 12th for a peaceful paddle. The middle of the outlook has a long gap of poor conditions from Friday the 4th into early the following week. Expect crowds are possible at Inch Reefs on a decent day, especially that Thursday if the wind co-operates.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sun night, light winds from the SSE by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Fri morning, light winds from the WSW by Fri night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | WNW 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | WNW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WSW 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
651 | 1391 | 561 | 388 | 153 | 131 | 176 | 456 | 483 | 654 | 847 | 2511 | 2718 | 2134 | 2882 | 53 | 51 | 36 | 17 | 86 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:51PM3.52m | 7:15AM3.39m | 7:26PM3.45m | 7:51AM3.31m | 8:05PM3.30m | 8:30AM3.17m | 8:48PM3.10m | 9:16AM2.98m | 9:42PM2.86m | 10:15AM2.79m | 10:54PM2.65m | 11:34AM2.66m | 00:27AM2.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:55AM0.08m | 1:08PM0.28m | 1:29AM0.17m | 1:45PM0.37m | 2:06AM0.33m | 2:25PM0.52m | 2:49AM0.55m | 3:14PM0.71m | 3:42AM0.81m | 4:19PM0.92m | 4:56AM1.04m | 5:53PM1.03m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
8:32 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | — | 2 | — | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | — | W 10 | NNW 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | NW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 15 | SW 15 | W 11 | W 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 |
651 | — | 561 | 115 | 153 | 49 | 176 | 81 | 44 | 14 | 21 | 54 | 2718 | 2134 | 53 | 53 | 1960 | 763 | 415 | 111 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | — | NNW 7 | — | N 7 | NNW 6 | N 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | N 8 | N 11 | SW 15 | SW 15 | N 10 | — | SW 14 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
7 | — | 242 | — | 34 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 25 | 37 | 5 | 21 | 56 | 57 | 8 | — | 51 | 206 | 144 | 88 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | — | — | — | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | N 7 | N 9 | N 8 | N 12 | N 8 | N 11 | N 10 | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | WSW 9 |
1 | — | — | — | 13 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 36 | 19 | — | — | — | 36 | 17 | 86 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 9 | — | W 9 | WSW 7 | W 7 | — | SW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 11 | — | — | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | — | — | — | SSE 3 |
— | 1391 | — | 388 | 131 | 131 | — | 456 | 483 | 654 | 847 | 2511 | — | — | 2882 | 3201 | — | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 27 | 243 | 367 | 565 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 243 | 464 | 139 | 11 | 11 | 406 | 139 | 139 | 11 | 11 | 27 |
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.











