Surf Forecasts:
Lahinch Strand surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period, W swell with 273 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Lahinch Strand this week:
The surf forecast for Lahinch Strand over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Lahinch Strand in the next 16 days are 1.2m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) 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 0.9m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Lahinch Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's see what we're working with for the next couple of weeks here.
Right off the bat, this isn't a classic run for Lahinch. We have a long stretch of small, weak, or just messy conditions ahead. For the next several days, we are dealing with a lot of cross-off winds but the wave energy is just not there. Through Thursday the 20th and into the weekend, heights are dropping fast – we go from about 4ft down to just 1ft by Sunday, with the combined swell energy falling right off a cliff. It is going to be a flat spell, no two ways about it.
There is a little flicker of hope on Monday the 24th. The morning shows a 3ft swell from the WNW with an 11-second period, which gives it a bit of push for a groundswell. Winds are light and cross-off from the ESE, which should keep things reasonably clean. But the crowds here are often, so expect company. It is not a standout, just the best of a quiet week.
We then hit a few more days of pretty poor conditions, with building winds from the SE and eventually a fresh breeze creating lumpy, choppy seas. The swell stays small and weak until things take a dramatic turn on Friday the 28th of August. This is the one to circle on the calendar. We are looking at a 10ft swell from the WNW, with a solid period of 9 seconds and a massive jump in energy. The problem is, this is way too big for this break. For a point break like Lahinch Strand, anything over 8ft gets serious, and this is for experts only. Plus it is still a bit lumpy from the cross-shore wind. This is the real standout for size and power, but only for the most experienced surfers who know how to handle a heavy, powerful point.
After that, it drops again quickly into the start of September. There is a brief glimpse of something on the 2nd of September with a small, short-period swell from the NW, but it is weak. Nothing to get excited about.
For the first-time surfer or beginner: That Monday the 24th with the 3ft swell is about the only safe bet in the first week, but it is tiny. The big pulse on the 28th is a definite no-go if you are not experienced.
The water here is sitting at about 63°F, which is a bit warmer than usual for late August, so you might get away with a spring suit.
Overall, the first week is a write-off for decent waves. The big swell on the 28th is the one and only highlight, and it is a powerful, expert-only affair. Beyond that, it gets small and unsteady again.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
539 | 305 | 123 | 75 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 140 | 180 | 133 | 74 | 76 | 72 | 246 | 273 | 196 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:08AM3.30m | 11:39PM3.07m | 12:12PM3.10m | 00:57AM2.90m | 1:36PM3.05m | 2:29AM2.93m | 2:58PM3.19m | 3:41AM3.13m | 3:57PM3.45m | 4:30AM3.38m | 4:40PM3.74m | 5:08AM3.64m | 5:16PM4.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:10PM1.53m | 5:37AM1.68m | 6:46PM1.73m | 7:27AM1.81m | 8:34PM1.66m | 8:57AM1.68m | 9:39PM1.41m | 9:52AM1.43m | 10:23PM1.12m | 10:32AM1.16m | 10:59PM0.81m | 11:06AM0.89m | 11:31PM0.53m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 8:53 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:50 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WSW 9 | NW 6 | NW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 8 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 |
539 | 305 | 123 | 26 | 32 | 16 | 26 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 140 | 180 | 133 | 74 | 76 | 72 | 246 | 273 | 196 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 9 | W 14 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | NW 6 | SW 15 | WNW 3 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | SW 13 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 8 | — | — | W 14 |
9 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 25 | 31 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SW 14 | W 17 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | W 10 | WNW 5 | NW 9 | WNW 5 | NW 10 | SW 14 | SW 14 | — | W 13 | W 13 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 8 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 8 | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NW 7 | — | NNE 3 | — | WNW 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | ESE 2 | ESE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 75 | — | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 568 | 606 | 0 | 152 | 152 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 77 | 53 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 84 | 53 | 91 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Clare | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Lahinch Strand Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Lahinch Strand provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Lahinch Strand can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Lahinch Strand 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 (Lahinch Strand) 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 Lahinch Strand 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 Clare? If you are looking for accommodation near Lahinch Strand, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Clare, consider staying in Inis which is 26 km (16 miles) away. Other places in and around Clare where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Foynes which is 39 km (24 miles) away, Shannon, Galway and Limerick.











