
Surf Forecasts:
Inch Reefs surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, WNW swell with 1,601 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with SW 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 17) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. 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 18) at 4PM. 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 11s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Inch Reefs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get real about the next couple of weeks. Honestly, the surf calendar looks pretty patchy, with a definite dry spell before we see anything worth getting excited about.
The long-range picture is where the real hope lies. We’re looking at a window around the 22nd of August that has some serious potential. But for the next week or so, it’s mostly about small, messy waves and waiting for the ocean to sort itself out.
Right off the bat, the surf is pretty uninspiring. On the 12th, we’ve got some chest-high swell at Inch Reefs, but the winds are all over the place, making it messy and unappealing. The following days, from the 13th through the 16th, are a write-off. The swell drops right out, and we’re left with tiny, weak waves. It’s one of those stretches where you’re better off doing a beach clean-up or fixing your gear than paddling out. The energy in the water during this time is really low (values in the low hundreds and below), and there’s just nothing to work with.
We finally see a pulse of energy arrive on Monday the 17th. The morning still looks shaky, but the afternoon session shapes up with a clean, cross-off breeze and some waist-to-chest-high waves. It’s not perfect, but it’s the first real glimmer of surfable conditions. The energy is moderate (201), so there’s a bit of push behind it.
Then, hold on to your board. The 18th sees a significant jump in size, but it’s a total mess. The wind goes onshore and cranks, blowing out what could have been a fun few waves. The swell is solid – a good 7 to 10 feet (2.1m to 3.0m) – with strong energy (567 jumping to 1629), but it’s lumpy, bumpy, and not worth the fight unless you’re a glutton for punishment. This is followed by gale-force winds on the 19th that just destroy any chance of a wave. The coast is a washing machine, and the swell direction is all wrong.
After that storm blows through, the ocean needs a couple of days to settle. The 20th and 21st are small, clean, but pretty weak. It’s the kind of surf that’s there if you’re desperate, but you won’t be telling your mates about it.
Now, for the standout. The real story is the 22nd of August. We’re looking at a solid pulse of west-southwest swell that lines up perfectly with what Inch Reefs loves. The waves are going to be a solid 7 feet (2.2m) with good energy (768), and to top it off, the morning is forecast to be glassy. This is the day you want to clear your schedule for. This point break is a fair-weather friend, but when it’s on, it’s on. Expect a proper session. Just know it’s a fairly consistent spot, and with those conditions, crowds are likely.
The window after that fades pretty quickly. The 23rd and 24th see the swell drop back down to the waist-high range, and the winds become a bit more variable. The 25th through the 27th are pretty poor again, with the 27th seeing another big storm blow through with strong onshore winds and a jump in size to 8 feet (2.5m), but it’s not going to be clean. That's just a wild, blown-out mess.
So, if you’re looking for the one to circle, it’s Saturday the 22nd. That’s the one with real potential for a memorable surf. Everything else before that is just a filler. Stay patient.
I’m Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 9 | SW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 10 | SW 13 | W 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 9 | WSW 8 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | W 8 | WNW 10 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
402 | 392 | 596 | 416 | 351 | 269 | 140 | 4 | 7 | 53 | 22 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 39 | 187 | 118 | 195 | 540 | 1601 | 29 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:01AM3.37m | 5:15PM3.63m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:57AM0.29m | 11:26PM-0.06m | 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 | |||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:10 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 8 | SW 10 | N 10 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | WSW 8 | W 7 | N 8 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 |
402 | 392 | 596 | 416 | 351 | 269 | 140 | 4 | 2 | 163 | 164 | 129 | 117 | 84 | 37 | 187 | 83 | 5 | 27 | 28 | 29 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | W 12 | N 8 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | N 11 | SW 13 | W 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | W 9 | N 8 | N 8 | SW 16 | N 7 | — | — |
5 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 53 | 22 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 39 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | N 8 | — | N 7 | N 7 | S 14 | S 13 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 8 | N 9 | W 7 | SW 12 | W 11 | N 9 | NNW 7 | NW 7 | S 12 | — | — | — |
6 | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 4 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | W 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 238 | 238 | — | 114 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 118 | 195 | 540 | 1601 | 3217 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 27 | 243 | 382 | 382 | 459 | 98 | 608 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 244 | 382 | 406 |
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.











