Magheraroarty Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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.

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