Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, N swell with 786 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with NW 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Magheraroarty Strand. Gotta be honest with you, the next week and a half is a bit of a grim watch. The wind is a real problem, mostly blowing straight onshore or cross-on, mushing up whatever swell tries to show. The first real surfable day doesn't appear until Sunday the 24th of August, and even then it's a slow burn.
The whole first week is a write-off. Thursday the 20th through Saturday the 22nd of August you’re looking at poor conditions with a fresh to moderate breeze and small, weak swell. The energy is low, barely cracking 38 (combined energy of all swells directed here). Sunday the 23rd of August offers a tiny glimmer of hope with a light breeze and a clean texture, but the swell is only 3ft and the energy is a measly 63. You could get a few grovelly ones, but it’s not worth hauling the kit for.
The standout window is definitely Monday the 24th of August. The morning is looking proper. We’ve got a clean 5ft swell from the WNW with a long 11-second period, giving it some real grunt – the energy is up at 610. That’s a groundswell, and it’s hitting the exposed point setup from the optimum NNW direction. With a light, cross-offshore breeze, it’s going to be clean and lined up. Water temperature is about average for this time of year. This is the best on offer in the whole run. The afternoon holds up well too with 5ft and clean conditions.
Now, after that, it gets a bit messy again. Tuesday the 25th of August has a strong breeze that makes it tough, even with clean conditions. Wednesday the 26th of August and Thursday the 27th of August are marginal at best.
Then, hold onto your board. For the brave souls looking a long way out, the 31st of August and the 1st of September are pumping. On Monday the 31st of August, the morning is glassy with a huge 10ft WNW swell. The energy reading is a massive 2160. But I have to warn you, this spot is a point break and that much power, especially from that direction, is going to be way too big for most. It's expert territory only. The wind is glassy, making it look perfect, but the size and power will be a handful. The 8ft swell on the 1st of September is also a big one, but the wind shifts offshore, making the afternoon session on the 1st of September much more manageable at 5ft from the NNW with clean conditions. Those two days are the highlight for the experienced crew, but you need to be cautious.
The rest of the first week of September fades back into small, poor conditions. Overall, if you’re a beginner, there’s a bit of fun to be had on the 24th of August. For the experts, the last day of August and the 1st of September are the real deal, but it’s a long-range call and the forecast could shift.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed night, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Wed night, light winds from the WNW by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the ESE by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
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) | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | ENE 5 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 786 | 418 | 255 | 167 | 108 | 45 | 27 | 22 | 25 | 51 | 79 | 284 | 606 | 460 | 235 | 146 | 106 | 42 | 116 | 196 | 179 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 11:51AM2.46m | 00:22AM2.31m | 1:08PM2.31m | 1:58AM2.17m | 2:55PM2.31m | 3:39AM2.23m | 4:15PM2.49m | 4:41AM2.41m | 5:05PM2.72m | 5:23AM2.61m | 5:42PM2.96m | 5:57AM2.80m | 6:15PM3.18m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:32AM1.05m | 6:04PM1.19m | 6:36AM1.27m | 7:35PM1.36m | 8:14AM1.35m | 9:22PM1.32m | 9:43AM1.24m | 10:31PM1.14m | 10:40AM1.02m | 11:16PM0.92m | 11:20AM0.78m | 11:52PM0.69m | 11:54AM0.55m | 00:24AM0.47m | |||||||
 | |  |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:40 | — |
mm | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 148 | 108 | 51 | 21 | 14 | 24 | 25 | 16 | 25 | 51 | 79 | 284 | 606 | 460 | 235 | 146 | 106 | 49 | 116 | 196 | 179 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | WSW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | N 9 | WNW 6 | WSW 9 | WNW 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | W 14 | W 14 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | NE 5 | N 10 | N 10 |
| kJ | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 18 | 23 | 35 | 12 | 49 | 47 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 17 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | N 9 | WNW 10 | WSW 8 | NW 11 | W 10 | — | — | N 12 | NNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 9 | W 8 | NE 4 | NNE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 8 | — | — | 11 | 24 | 15 | 3 | 29 | 5 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NW 5 | NNW 5 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | SE 3 | — | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | E 4 | ENE 5 | — | WSW 3 | WSW 5 |
| kJ | 786 | 418 | 255 | 167 | 108 | 45 | 27 | 22 | 11 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 17 | 24 | 42 | — | 5 | 33 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 429 | 781 | 361 | 392 | 348 | 238 | 183 | 356 | 36 | 0 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 214 | 340 | 214 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
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.
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