
Surf Forecasts:
Inch Reefs surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 19 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, WNW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 22 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, W swell with 3,390 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 19 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s 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 Saturday (Sep 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Inch Reefs in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 22) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 5.5m 14s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Tue 22nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inch Reefs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, grab a seat, ladies and gents. Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for the next couple of weeks. Honestly? It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with some true gold buried under a lot of ordinary.
The big story is that huge pulse of swell due in at Inch Reefs on Tuesday the 22nd of September and into Wednesday the 23rd. That’s the standout, but it comes with a serious caveat. The *best* quality in the window, though, might just be the glassy conditions late in the month.
The water is sitting at 62°F right now, which is a touch warmer than average for this time of year—a nice little bonus if you’re in the water on any of the good days.
Let’s run it down chronologically.
The first few days are a write-off. We’ve got nothing on offer until Tuesday the 15th, but that’s a washout thanks to a blustery 19 mph cross-shore and a lumpy, cross-choppy mess. From Wednesday the 16th right through to Monday the 21st of September, it’s just poor surf conditions. There’s a lot of cross-onshore wind and not much to get excited about. You’re looking at a solid week of flat or junky surf.
Things get interesting on Tuesday the 22nd of September. The morning brings a clean 6 ft swell from the west with an 11-second period and light cross-shore winds. The energy is already packing a punch at 1239. But the real event is the Tuesday afternoon. We are looking at a massive 10 ft groundswell from the west with a very long 15-second period. The combined energy is a massive 3396. That’s a lot of water moving. The wind goes light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean. However, this is an advanced spot for a reason. At over 8 ft, this is strictly for experts; that’s too big for the average punter. The long period will make it wall up and stand tall on the reef, but it might be a little too straight for the beachies.
After that round of excitement, the swell backs off, but the quality improves. Saturday the 26th of September is your sneaky pick. Saturday morning is absolute gold: glassy conditions, a clean 5 ft swell from the west-southwest with an 11-second period, and enough energy (660) to give you a proper push. That’s “very good surf conditions” right there. The Saturday afternoon is even cleaner, with a 4 ft swell from the west, a long 16-second period, and light offshore wind. The energy (1304) is solid, making it “excellent for experienced surfers.” This might be the best combination of size and perfection in the whole 16 days.
Sunday the 27th stays rideable but gets a bit tricky with onshore wind and a drop in quality, then the following week reverts to flatness and poor conditions right through the end of the month.
The Standout: No contest, Tuesday the 22nd afternoon is the biggest, most powerful swell. But it’s only for the hardcore crew at a top-tier wave like Inch Reefs. For the best *all-round* session with clean waves and no crowd-killing wind? Saturday the 26th of September is the day to circle. Glassy, waist-to-head-high sets, and clean. Don’t sleep on it.
Stay wet, stay salty.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 10 | S 11 | WNW 10 | WSW 5 | W 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 13 | WNW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 10 | W 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1504 | 2 | 0 | 73 | 1601 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 3378 | 1112 | 1247 | 20 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 17 | 524 | 992 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:03PM3.15m | 8:22AM3.04m | 8:41PM2.88m | 9:00AM2.79m | 9:25PM2.60m | 9:47AM2.56m | 10:24PM2.36m | 10:55AM2.37m | 11:51PM2.22m | 12:30PM2.33m | 1:29AM2.28m | 1:54PM2.47m | 2:37AM2.46m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:00AM0.53m | 2:20PM0.66m | 2:36AM0.81m | 3:00PM0.91m | 3:17AM1.09m | 3:52PM1.16m | 4:17AM1.33m | 5:19PM1.33m | 6:02AM1.44m | 7:15PM1.30m | 7:44AM1.35m | 8:26PM1.10m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | |
7:55 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 6 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | N 9 | — | — | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | SW 12 | SW 16 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 11 |
61 | 2622 | 1497 | 731 | 6 | — | — | 9718 | 5407 | 6 | 10 | 1112 | 1247 | 2529 | 2083 | 1602 | 1348 | 979 | 524 | 992 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | S 13 | — | — | — | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 12 | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 11 | SW 13 |
— | 36 | 17 | 17 | 3 | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | 6 | 977 | 676 | 20 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 17 | 317 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | NNW 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | — | S 10 | NNW 8 | — |
— | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 13 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | — | WSW 5 | W 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 13 | — | — | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
1504 | — | — | 73 | 1601 | 4294 | 8043 | — | — | 4631 | 3378 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 683 | 367 | 353 | 406 | 649 | 565 | 565 | 11 | 250 | 575 | 575 | 139 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 7 |
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.










