Maghermore Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a seat, let’s see what’s on offer. I’ve had a good look at the numbers for the next couple of weeks, and to be honest, it’s a pretty grim run for the most part. We’re looking at Maghermore, and it’s a real tale of small, weak energy and a whole lot of waiting. The combined swell energy is nearly always in the single digits or low teens – that’s barely a bump, mate. There’s a real gap in decent surf here, with days and days of nothing to get excited about. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

The whole first week, from the 5th of August through to the 12th, is a write-off. We’re talking tiny 0.3ft to 1ft waves with periods that are either short and choppy or long and weak. The wind is a mixed bag, but it doesn’t matter when there’s no power behind it. The best you get is a clean, glassy surface on the 10th and 11th, but it’s on 0.3ft of swell – perfect for a swim, maybe a float, but not a surf. The 12th of August shows a little more size, around 3ft to 3ft, but it’s a short-period, junky SSE windswell with a cross-onshore breeze. That’s not a surfable wave, that’s a mess.

The middle of the month, from the 13th to the 17th, is more of the same flatness. The 14th is a total blank. The 15th and 16th offer tiny, weak waves from the S and SSW, mostly clean, but you’re looking at 0.3ft to 2ft. It’s just not enough.

There is one moment that stands out, but it’s a conditional one. On the afternoon of the 17th of August, the swell jumps to 5ft from the SSE with a short period of 5 seconds. The combined energy is 140 (moderate), so there’s finally some push. The wind is a clean offshore from the WNW at 19 mph. That’s a proper offshore wind. But here’s the catch: that 5ft on a short-period swell at a fairly exposed break like Maghermore is going to be a lumpy, close-out shorebreak. It’s not beginner territory, and it’s going to be a handful for anyone. The 5ft height and strong offshore wind make it look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It’s the only real pulse of energy in the whole 16 days, but it’s a raw, difficult one.

After that, it drops back to nothing. The 18th, 19th, and 20th of August are back to 0.3ft to 1ft with clean but weak conditions. A long-period groundswell of 16 seconds on the 18th morning might offer a tiny, clean 0.3ft wave, but it’s a whisper.

So, overall, there’s no standout session here. The 17th of August afternoon is the closest thing to a surf, but it’s a rough, expert-only novelty. The rest is a flat spell. For a spot like this, a blank run like this is more normal than not. The forecasts can change, but right now, there’s nothing to recommend.

Rusty.

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