Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, W swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 21ft (6.5m), 13s period, W swell with 13,628 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Magheraroarty Strand this week:
The surf forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Magheraroarty Strand in the next 16 days are 6.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 21ft (6.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a look at what’s comin’ up. This forecast is all about Magheraroarty Strand (point break, exposed to the north-northwest), and it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The water is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, sittin’ at 61°F.
First up, Sunday morning the 30th of August – you’re lookin’ at a tiny 2ft swell from the north, period of 7 seconds, combined wave energy is weak (34). Winds are light cross-off from the southeast, so the surf will be clean but there’s almost no power. It’s a no-go for any real fun. Sunday afternoon stays similar, with glassy conditions but still no push.
Monday the 31st gets a bit messy. Morning sees a jump to 8ft from the west-northwest, period 8 seconds, moderate to strong energy (931), but a strong 30 mph cross-shore wind from the west-northwest makes it lumpy and hard to handle. By afternoon the swell drops to 4ft from the northwest, and the wind shifts to cross-off from the west-southwest, cleanin’ it up, but it’s still not quality.
Tuesday the 1st of September – morning brings a solid 8ft from the west (8 seconds, strong energy at 773), but a strong 25 mph cross-off wind from the southwest means it’s gonna be blown and rugged. Afternoon gets a bit better with 6ft from the west, light cross-shore wind from the west, and marginal conditions.
Wednesday the 2nd sees the swell drop right back down – tiny 2ft in the morning and 2ft in the afternoon, both from the north with weak energy, and cross-off winds. Not worth paddlin’ out.
Now, Thursday the 3rd of September is a big one. Morning hits with a massive 10ft west swell, period 11 seconds (very long period), and combined energy is huge at 2175. That’s strong to very strong. Problem is, it’s too big for this break, and the wind is a cross-off 22 mph from the west-southwest. The waves will be too meaty for most – expert-only terrain, and even then, that long period will make it break straight and fast. Not for the faint-hearted. Afternoon gets even bigger at 12ft from the west (12 seconds, 3441 energy) but the wind turns near-gale from the southwest, blowin’ it to pieces.
Friday the 4th is no better – 15ft from the west-northwest in the morning (13 seconds, energy through the roof at 7357), with cross-on wind. That’s more kitin’ territory than paddle surf. Afternoon remains huge and messy.
Come Saturday the 5th of September, the swell drops to 6ft from the west (10 seconds, moderate energy at 836), but winds are cross-shore from the west-northwest, creating some chop. Marginal conditions. Sunday the 6th – tiny 0.7ft from the north-northwest in the morning, then a jump to 7ft from the west (10 seconds, 908 energy) in the afternoon, with strong offshore wind from the south-southwest. That’s clean but hard to paddle into and too big for the spot.
Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th stay too big or messy. After that, from Wednesday the 9th through to the 14th of September, the swell is tiny, often under 3ft, with poor conditions across the board. Only Saturday the 12th offers a slight glimmer – 3ft from the west (11 seconds, 197 energy) in the morning, clean but ordinary.
The standout here is really that morning of Thursday the 3rd of September – 10ft west swell, but heed the warning: it’s too big for Magheraroarty and only for experts. The long period (11 seconds) will make it dumpy. If you’re a confident local and can handle heavy, slabby waves, that’s the one to chase. But for the rest of the run? You’ll be waitin’ for the next window.
Keep your eyes on the charts, but right now, this stretch looks more like a rest weekend than a surf trip.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (gales from the SW on Thu night, moderate winds from the NW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 7 | N 7 | W 9 | WNW 8 | NW 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 11 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 9 | NNW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
33 | 33 | 189 | 931 | 194 | 41 | 765 | 517 | 223 | 37 | 66 | 146 | 2061 | 3385 | 7765 | 7332 | 4562 | 2200 | 614 | 318 | 62 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 8:16PM3.55m | 8:32AM3.23m | 8:48PM3.46m | 9:06AM3.16m | 9:23PM3.30m | 9:44AM3.03m | 10:04PM3.08m | 10:29AM2.85m | 10:54PM2.80m | 11:28AM2.65m | 00:06AM2.53m | 12:55PM2.52m | 1:51AM2.40m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:57PM0.09m | 2:23AM0.10m | 2:30PM0.14m | 2:56AM0.18m | 3:05PM0.26m | 3:32AM0.34m | 3:45PM0.45m | 4:13AM0.56m | 4:34PM0.70m | 5:05AM0.82m | 5:40PM0.95m | 6:20AM1.05m | 7:19PM1.09m | ||||||||
6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:15 | — | |
mm | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | N 7 | — | NW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | W 8 | W 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | — | N 7 | W 10 | W 9 | NNW 8 |
80 | 154 | 23 | — | 194 | 23 | 8 | 517 | 223 | 37 | 66 | 146 | 114 | 56 | 17 | 25 | — | 69 | 614 | 318 | 62 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | — | — | — | W 9 | — | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 13 | NNW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NW 8 |
33 | 33 | — | — | — | 41 | — | 7 | 21 | 3 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 199 | 149 | 24 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 | N 8 | W 16 | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | W 14 | W 14 |
1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | — | W 9 | WNW 8 | WSW 10 | W 7 | W 8 | — | — | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | — | — | WSW 8 |
1 | — | 189 | 931 | 348 | 220 | 765 | — | — | 226 | 263 | 783 | 2061 | 3385 | 7765 | 7332 | 4562 | 2200 | — | — | 335 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 3 | 163 | 369 | 345 | 120 | 340 | 58 | 0 | 159 | 371 | 369 | 96 | 141 | 433 | 492 | 793 | 392 | 17 | 4 | 4 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Donegal | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Magheraroarty Strand Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Magheraroarty Strand provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Magheraroarty Strand can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Magheraroarty 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 (Magheraroarty 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 Magheraroarty 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.
Magheroarty Strand is 35 km (22 miles) from the city of Letterkenny. If you plan a holiday in Donegal, look for hotels and other accommodation in Letterkenny. Letterkenny has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











