Lahinch Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty, and I've gotta be straight with you – we're looking at a pretty grim stretch for Lahinch Strand over the next 16 days. The overall pattern is dominated by a relentless run of messy, wind-affected swells, with the wind howling from the wrong directions for the vast majority of the period. The water is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's small comfort when the surf is as poor as it is.

The first week is a complete write-off. From Thursday morning, September 3rd, through to the end of the second week, we see a constant stream of "poor surf conditions" flags. Thursday has a 5ft to 6ft WSW swell, but it's accompanied by a 19 mph onshore wind, making it totally unsurfable. Friday, September 4th, brings a bigger 10ft to 12ft W swell with a 12-second period, but that's just a messy, dangerous wall of water with a 25 mph cross-onshore wind. The combined energy is a massive 3331 (strong to very strong), but it's a total washing machine. This continues day after day – the wind is almost always onshore or cross-onshore, and even when the swell drops to 3ft on Wednesday, September 9th, the wind is still cross-shore and choppy.

There's a gap of good surf here, folks – a solid ten days of nothing but frustration. The first real glimmer of hope doesn't arrive until Saturday, September 12th. It's a long way off, so keep that in mind. On Saturday morning, the forecast shows a clean 8ft WNW swell with a very long 13-second period and a light 9 mph cross-offshore wind. The combined energy is a healthy 1687 (strong), and the comment says "wind and tide favorable." However, the catch is that the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, so it's really only for the very experienced crew, and even then, it's a heavy, powerful groundswell that might break a bit too straight for the beach. The afternoon is more marginal.

Then on Sunday, September 13th, we get another standout window. The morning has a clean 6ft WSW swell with a 9-second period, and the wind is a glassy 3 mph from the north, which is cross-offshore. The comment says "expect very good surf conditions," and the combined energy is 615 (moderate). This is your best bet for the whole 16-day outlook. The swell is a manageable size for most, and the wind will give you clean, lined-up waves. The afternoon is more marginal with a cross-shore breeze.

After that, it's back to the doldrums. Monday, September 14th, through the end of the period on Friday, September 18th, is a mix of poor surf, small swells, and more strong winds. The big WNW swell on Friday, September 18th, with a 5ft and 12-second period, is another one that's just too messy to enjoy with the 19 mph cross-onshore wind.

So, to be honest, if you're planning a paddle session, you're looking at a 10-day wait for Saturday the 12th, and then another 10-day wait for the next clean window. The standout is definitely Sunday morning, September 13th, at Lahinch Strand – that's the one to circle on the calendar. It's a long-range call, so it's a bit less certain, but if the forecast holds, it'll be the best surf we've seen in a fortnight.

Rusty.

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