Lahinch Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee, and we’re looking at the next sixteen days for Lahinch, and… well, I’ll be honest with you, it’s a tough watch. The water’s a touch warmer than normal for the time of year at 63°, but that’s about the only thing that’s cooperating. The entire first week is a write-off for any real surfing. We’re looking at tiny, weak swells – mostly around 0.7 ft to 1 ft – with barely any energy. The wind is often offshore, which would be a dream if there was any wave to clean up, but there isn’t. It’s a frustrating stretch of flatness and poor surf conditions. That’s a solid seven days with nothing to get excited about.

Friday morning, the 24th of July, is the first time we see something that’s even surfable, but it’s only reaching a 1 out of 10 on the quality scale. The swell is a tiny 1 ft from the WNW with a 10-second period and the combined energy is a pathetic 50. The wind is glassy, which is a major positive, so the surface will be like a mirror, but you’ll be fighting for a dribble. It’s not what I’d call a session.

The scene picks up a bit from the 25th of July, but not in a good way for paddle surfing. We get a pulse of swell from the NW, pushing 2 ft, and the combined energy jumps to 159, but the wind is cross-on and then onshore, turning it into a messy, blown-out mess. On the 26th and 27th, we finally get some real size – 5 ft and then 7 ft from the WNW – but the energy is climbing into the moderate range (395 to 736). The problem is the wind. It’s a strong, fresh cross-shore from the NW, which is going to turn Lahinch Strand into a lumpy, cross-chop nightmare. The period is only 9 seconds, so it’s windswell, not a clean groundswell. For a surfer, this is a write-off. For a kite surfer, this setup would look way more interesting than for us with paddles.

That messy cross-shore and onshore wind pattern hangs around until the 30th of July, with a bit of size but nothing clean. The 31st of July sees the wind swing onshore from the SW, and the 1st of August is a return to tiny, lumpy leftovers.

Monday the 3rd of August is the last chance we see, and it’s a marginal one. A 4 ft swell from the west with a short 8-second period and 217 energy is on the cards, but the wind is onshore from the SW. It’s a low-quality, choppy option. Overall, there’s no standout winner in this window. The best on offer is that glassy Friday morning with the tiny 1 ft, but that’s a desperate pick. If you’re an expert, the 7 ft swell on the 27th has the power, but the wind kills it. This is one of those stretches where the forecasts can change, but right now, I’d leave the board in the van.

Rusty.

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