Surf Forecasts:
Inch Reefs surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, W swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, WNW swell with 4,860 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s 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 14) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. 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 4.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.5m 11s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inch Reefs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. This is Inch Reefs, and it’s a tough stretch. We’ve got a long run of flat or junky conditions to sit through before anything worth paddling out for shows up.
For the first week, the story is pretty grim. The swell stays small and weak, and most of the time the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, just ruining what little wave energy there is. Thursday the 13th is a write-off – lumpy onshores and weak swell (418 combined energy). Friday morning the 14th is the first time we see a clean look, with a little 4ft W swell and a cross-off NNW breeze, but at just 8 seconds period, it’s pretty weak (200 combined energy). Still, that morning might be worth a paddle if you’re desperate. After that, it drops away into flatness, with days of nothing but tiny glassy leftovers of 1ft – pretty, but unsurfable.
There is a real gap from the 15th right through to the morning of Thursday the 20th. That’s nearly five days of no real surf on offer.
Thursday morning the 20th brings some hope. A clean 4ft W swell with a 10-second period and a cross-off N wind. That’s a solid, clean little runner (260 combined energy). Inch Reefs is a point break and it loves that SW optimum direction – a W swell is close enough to work well. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook. The crowds are sometimes here, so you might have some company, but with such a poor run beforehand, it could be quiet. The water temp is about average for this time of year – no complaints there.
Friday the 21st is glassy in the morning but the swell is down to 2ft (81 combined energy) – barely worth it.
Then Saturday the 22nd is a real sleeper. The morning is dead flat calm with a glassy wind and a 3ft W swell at 9 seconds (217 combined energy). Conditions will be perfect, and that’s a fun little point break wave. Sunday morning the 23rd is also clean with a similar 3ft swell (225 combined energy). These are your second-best windows.
After that, it’s back into onshores and building wind through the end of the run. The 27th of August sees a big spike in energy (1121 combined energy) with an 8ft WSW swell, but the wind is onshore and the quality will be raw and messy. That’s only for experienced surfers, and even then, the conditions won’t be kind.
So, to wrap it up: the first week is a bust. Your standout is Thursday morning the 20th – that clean, waist-to-chest high W swell with the offshore breeze. Saturday the 22nd morning is also a beauty if you want glassy conditions and a smaller wave. After that, it’s a waiting game again.
Stay frothy.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the NW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | W 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 8 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 7 | W 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
416 | 322 | 269 | 195 | 171 | 7 | 54 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 163 | 295 | 257 | 172 | 124 | 385 | 3823 | 24 | 24 | 424 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:47AM3.52m | 5:59PM3.75m | 6:30AM3.57m | 6:41PM3.77m | 7:10AM3.54m | 7:21PM3.67m | 7:49AM3.43m | 8:01PM3.48m | 8:27AM3.25m | 8:40PM3.22m | 9:06AM3.03m | 9:22PM2.93m | 9:48AM2.80m | 10:09PM2.65m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:41AM0.17m | 00:09AM-0.15m | 12:22PM0.13m | 00:49AM-0.13m | 1:02PM0.17m | 1:27AM-0.01m | 1:41PM0.29m | 2:05AM0.20m | 2:20PM0.48m | 2:42AM0.47m | 3:00PM0.70m | 3:22AM0.76m | 3:45PM0.94m | ||||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | W 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 10 |
416 | 322 | 269 | 195 | 171 | 226 | 135 | 136 | 117 | 95 | 65 | 163 | 13 | 12 | 172 | 124 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 24 | 424 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 7 | N 10 | W 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 9 | NNW 7 | SW 18 | N 8 | SSW 17 | N 7 | — | — | — | SW 15 |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 54 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 43 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 27 | 4 | — | — | — | 37 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | S 14 | S 13 | SW 10 | SW 13 | N 9 | N 9 | W 7 | N 9 | N 10 | NNW 7 | SW 18 | NW 7 | SW 16 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 6 | S 4 | WSW 7 | W 7 | — | SSW 4 | WSW 7 | W 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 10 |
— | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 9 | 295 | 257 | — | 13 | 385 | 3823 | 5205 | 4298 | 1608 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 27 | 243 | 0 | 389 | 37 | 243 | 586 | 32 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 243 | 14 | 27 | 15 | 400 | 566 | 392 | 183 | 0 |
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.











