Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, NW swell with 597 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. 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 1.8m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Magheraroarty Strand. The first week and a half is a total bummer. We’ve got a long stretch of flat, windblown nothing from Monday the 27th. Small slop, strong cross-off breezes – the surf is poor or marginal for days. There’s a pulse on Wednesday the 29th with 5ft from the W at a short 8-second period, but it’s cross-off and still nothing special. Water temp is 60°F, a touch warmer than normal for the season.
We don’t see anything worth paddling for until around Monday the 3rd of August, when a 4ft swell from the N with a 10-second period shows up on a light cross-shore wind. It’s marginal at best. The rest of that week just fades into tiny, glassy ankle-slappers.
Now, here’s the real deal. Saturday the 8th of August – that’s the big one in the long-range. The models are showing a serious WNW groundswell. We’re talking 8ft on Saturday morning with moderate wave energy (1420), building to 12ft by afternoon (1980). The wind will be a clean offshore from the E. But the catch is this: for a beginner-friendly point like Magheroarty, 8ft is already pushing it, and 12ft is expert-only. The direction is WNW, not a perfect match to the optimum NNW, but it’ll wrap. Consistency is an issue here – this is an inconsistent break, and this is a rare event. Crowds are never a problem, so that’s a win if you’re game.
Sunday the 9th goes even bigger – 13ft with very strong energy (2741) – but with gale-force SW winds. That’s a hard no. Monday the 10th still has size but the wind turns to a near-gale cross-shore, making it a total mess.
Bottom line: the first week is flat and windy. The second week has a massive, but dangerous, window on the 8th of August. If you’re an experienced surfer, that Saturday morning might be your shot. For everyone else, keep an eye on the forecast – it never stays flat for long around here.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 42mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon night, light winds from the NW by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Sun morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | N 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | N 9 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | N 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 445 | 325 | 99 | 60 | 401 | 264 | 201 | 314 | 322 | 199 | 220 | 168 | 173 | 168 | 225 | 228 | 174 | 130 | 88 | 179 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:02PM2.94m | 6:18AM2.80m | 6:38PM3.11m | 6:52AM2.91m | 7:12PM3.26m | 7:25AM2.99m | 7:44PM3.35m | 7:57AM3.03m | 8:15PM3.40m | 8:28AM3.03m | 8:47PM3.39m | 9:01AM3.00m | 9:19PM3.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:10AM0.73m | 12:16PM0.60m | 00:46AM0.58m | 12:50PM0.45m | 1:20AM0.46m | 1:22PM0.33m | 1:52AM0.37m | 1:53PM0.26m | 2:23AM0.32m | 2:24PM0.25m | 2:55AM0.32m | 2:57PM0.30m | 3:28AM0.36m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — |
 | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:42 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:35 |
mm | 1 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | 6 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | N 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | N 10 |
| kJ | 445 | 325 | 99 | 60 | 401 | 264 | 201 | 314 | 322 | 199 | 88 | 63 | 43 | 68 | 49 | 49 | 174 | 130 | 88 | 179 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | — | N 9 | N 9 | NNW 11 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 161 | 120 | 81 | — | 59 | 25 | 95 | 108 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | 47 | 49 | 69 | 66 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 15 | 29 | 15 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 330 | 355 | — | — | — | — | 176 | 196 | 220 | 168 | 173 | 168 | 225 | 228 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 13 | 17 | 47 | 20 | 58 | 66 | 13 | 439 | 832 | 47 | 433 | 593 | 36 | 361 | 1061 | 372 | 120 | 36 | 0 |
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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