Lahinch Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Lahinch Strand over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, it’s a bit of a rough start. The forecast kicks off with a solid pulse of swell, but the wind is just not playing ball at all. We’re looking at a 5ft to 7ft west swell with a short, bumpy period of 8 to 10 seconds, but it’s being shredded by a strong westerly wind. The combined wave energy is moderate (302 to 831), but with that cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be lumpy, choppy, and pretty much a write-off for a clean paddle session. The water temp is sitting at 64°F, which is a touch warmer than we’d normally expect for this time of year, so that’s a small comfort.

There’s a bit of a lull in quality from the 20th through the 23rd. The swell drops right off, and we’re looking at tiny, weak waves – we’re talking 1.0ft to 2ft. The energy is in the low double digits (24 to 65), which is basically nothing. The wind does go clean and offshore or even glassy on the 23rd, but the waves just aren’t there to enjoy it. It’s a proper flat spell.

We get a little blip of energy on the 24th with a 6ft west-southwest swell (period 10 seconds) and energy jumping to 664, but again, the wind swings strong cross-onshore, making it choppy and messy. Not worth getting excited about.

The best window in this whole forecast looks to be Thursday the 27th of August. The wind finally turns offshore from the northeast, light and gentle. We’ve got a consistent 4ft west swell with a period of 10 seconds, and the energy is moderate at 240. The conditions are described as clean and gentle offshore. This is your standout day for a proper surf. The break is a point, so it will handle that west swell nicely, and the offshore wind should groom it up well. The water is going to be a touch warmer than average, so it’ll be a good one. The 28th also holds clean conditions with a gentle offshore wind, but the swell drops off to 2ft, so it’s more of a longboard day.

After that, we’re back into a stretch of small, weak, or wind-affected surf right through to the end of the forecast on the 2nd of September. The 31st of August has a moment of glassy conditions with a small 3ft swell, but it’s ordinary. The long-range stuff on the 2nd of September brings a very long-period swell (18 seconds) but it’s tiny at 1ft and cross-onshore, so it’s just a tease.

So, if you’re looking for the best wave, get on the 27th of August. That is the clear winner. The 28th is a decent second option for a smaller, cruisy session. The rest of the 16 days is mostly a write-off due to poor wind or no swell.

Rusty.

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