
Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, W swell with 360 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with N 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 (Aug 11) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Magheraroarty Strand in the next 16 days are 1.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here, and I’m breaking down the surf at Magheraroarty Strand for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be honest—it’s a dry spell for most of it. The first real surf that’s worth paddling out for is a long way off, and we’ve got a big gap of flat, poor, or just plain messy days to sit through first.
We’re looking at a stretch starting now, the 10th of August, and there’s nothing to get excited about. Monday has a tiny 2ft swell with a cross breeze, and the energy is weak (265). Not worth the wax. Tuesday and Wednesday are even smaller, with the swell dropping to 0.7ft and nothing behind it. Thursday and Friday are a complete bust—strong winds, no swell to speak of. The water temp is sitting at 60°, which is about 2° warmer than usual for this time of year, so it’s a little on the mild side, but you won’t be feeling it from the beach.
The whole first week is a dud. We don’t see a proper pulse until the 18th of August, when a 5ft WNW swell rolls in, but the wind is howling onshore from the NNW at 16 mph, making it a messy, lumpy mess. The energy is moderate (415), but the conditions are trash. That continues through the 19th—same story, 5ft to 5ft swell, but the cross-onshore wind keeps it choppy. Not worth it.
Now, here’s the standout. The 20th of August, Thursday morning, is your best bet. The wind drops to nothing—glassy, 0 mph from the NW. The swell is a clean 4ft from the WNW with a 9-second period, and the energy is nice and solid (204). This is the one to mark on your calendar. Magheraroarty will be clean, smooth, and the whole place will feel like a different break. That glassy wind is a major plus.
Then the 21st of August, Friday morning, is another good one. Swell bumps up to 6ft from the WNW, with a 10-second period, and the wind is offshore from the SSW at 16 mph. The energy is pumping (682). That’s a solid groundswell, and the offshore wind will keep the faces clean. But for a spot like this, which is a point break and inconsistent, those long-period swells can be a bit too lined up at times, so keep your eyes open for the sets. This one’s for the experienced crew—6ft is pushing into the bigger range, so beginners might want to sit this one out.
The 22nd and 23rd are a mixed bag. Saturday the 22nd has 5ft from the west, but the wind is cross-off and the period is short (8 seconds), so it’s average. Sunday the 23rd gets an 8ft pulse from the NNW, but that’s too big for the break—it’s a warning sign, not a green light. Only experts should even look at it, and even then, the wind is cross-off from the SW at 19 mph, so it’s not as clean as it could be.
After that, the 24th and 25th fall back into poor conditions—cross-shore wind, choppy, and the swell is too big for the spot anyway. The 25th has 7ft from the NNW, but with a 25 mph cross-off wind, it’s just a blustery nightmare.
Overall, the best on offer is the 20th of August, Thursday morning, for the glassy, clean conditions on a 4ft swell. The 21st of August, Friday morning, is a close second for the size and offshore wind, but it’s a bigger wave. The rest of the window is mostly a waiting game. If you’re flexible and can get out on the 20th, do it. Otherwise, the forecast is grim and the blanks are long.
Stay patient, and I’ll catch you on the next one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | WSW 10 | N 11 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | N 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
126 | 356 | 175 | 73 | 33 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 169 | 156 | 360 | 251 | 220 | 224 | 133 | 77 | 56 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:07PM3.13m | 5:37AM3.02m | 5:59PM3.44m | 6:25AM3.20m | 6:45PM3.69m | 7:09AM3.31m | 7:28PM3.83m | 7:49AM3.35m | 8:08PM3.84m | 8:28AM3.31m | 8:47PM3.72m | 9:05AM3.21m | 9:24PM3.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:41AM0.63m | 11:21PM0.44m | 11:35AM0.37m | 00:12AM0.17m | 12:21PM0.14m | 00:58AM-0.02m | 1:04PM-0.03m | 1:40AM-0.11m | 1:44PM-0.09m | 2:19AM-0.08m | 2:23PM-0.04m | 2:57AM0.04m | 3:01PM0.10m | 3:33AM0.24m | |||||||
5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 13 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | NNW 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 11 | W 10 | — | WSW 9 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | N 9 |
84 | 356 | 175 | 73 | 33 | 236 | 231 | 205 | 356 | 296 | — | 211 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 224 | 133 | 77 | 56 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 11 | WNW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | — | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | NW 7 |
126 | 96 | 38 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 39 | 51 | 28 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | — | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 8 | WSW 7 |
55 | — | 28 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 342 | — | 169 | 156 | 360 | 251 | 220 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 3 | 3 | 58 | 106 | 433 | 356 | 392 | 372 | 433 | 58 | 58 | 17 | 58 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Donegal | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











