Lahinch Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first week is a write-off. We’re looking at a solid 7 to 8 days with nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is a mess, mostly howling onshore from the west and southwest, and the swell is all blown out and choppy. There’s a bit of size on the 18th and 19th, with waves around 5 ft to 8 ft from the west, but with a nasty cross-onshore wind, it’s just junk. Don’t even bother.

We start to see a glimmer of hope around Thursday the 20th. The wind swings around to the north, going clean and cross-offshore. The swell drops to about 4 ft to 5 ft from the west-northwest, with a period around 10 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (288 to 461). It’s described as marginal, but it’s the first clean conditions we’ll see. A small window for the patient ones.

Things then go flat and tiny for the next few days, with waves barely 1 ft high. The wind stays clean, but there’s no power behind it. The combined energy is weak (25 to 66). You’re just bobbing around.

Now, hold onto your leash, because the real standout is a long way off. Mark your calendars for Saturday the 29th of August. The forecast is sending a solid 10 ft swell from the west, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is going to be huge (1271). The wind is from the southeast, giving us a moderate cross-shore. The report says it might be too big for this break, but for the experienced crew, this is *the* day. The following Monday, the 31st, also looks interesting with a 8 ft west-southwest swell and a similar cross-shore wind, but the energy is still high (853). Keep in mind these are a week and a half away, so don’t book the time off just yet, but it’s promising.

The very end of the forecast, around the 1st and 2nd of September, shows some real monsters. We’re talking 10 ft to 12 ft west swells with periods up to 11 seconds. The combined energy is off the charts (1584 to 2408). The wind is onshore or cross-shore, so it’ll be a battle, but if you’re a big-wave charger, it’s worth a look. These waves are strictly for experts only, as anything over 8 ft is a different beast.

Overall, the first week is a dud. The best bet is the 29th of August, with the 31st a close second. For the groms and beginners, there’s nothing in the whole 16 days that’s safe and clean. Let’s hope the long-range forecasts firm up.

Rusty.

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