Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 13s period, WNW swell with 8,461 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 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 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m 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 5.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day look at Magheraroarty Strand, and it’s gonna be a story of two halves – a few small glimpses of fun early, then a heap of big, rowdy swells that are going to be way too much for this spot.
Right now, the water is sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might get away with a little less rubber.
The first bit of action is this Saturday morning (29th August). We’re looking at tiny 2 ft swell from the NNW with a short period of 6 seconds, but the wind is glassy. The energy is weak (44), so it’s not going to be a classic, but it’s surfable and clean if you’re desperate for a splash.
Sunday morning (30th August) is another glassy morning, but the swell drops even smaller to 2 ft from the N. The energy is still weak (35). It’s a real knee-high session for the patient ones.
Now, we hit a rough patch. From Monday (31st August) through to the end of the first week, the wind picks up and the swell gets chunky. Monday morning sees 8 ft from the WNW (8 secs) with fresh cross-shore winds and moderate energy (696). It’s lumpy and not enjoyable. By Tuesday (1st September), the swell jumps to 8 ft and the wind is a fresh cross-offshore (22 mph from the SSW). The combined energy is strong (864), but the forecast says it’s too big for this break. This is expert-only territory if you’re brave, and honestly, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddling.
Best on offer: I’m going to point you to Saturday morning (5th September). We’ve got 5 ft of swell from the W (10 secs) with a fresh 22 mph offshore wind from the S. The energy is moderate (495). The wind will clean it up nicely, and while the size is pushing the limits for beginners, for an intermediate surfer this is a solid window. It’s the standout clean swell in a messy period.
That clean spell is short-lived. Sunday (6th September) roars back with 8 ft from the W (11 secs) and fresh cross-offshore wind – again, too big for the break. The energy is very strong (1257). The following Monday (7th September) is similar with 7 ft and clean offshore winds, but same problem: too big.
The rest of the second week is mostly poor. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday morning (9th September) with 4 ft from the N (10 secs) and a gentle cross-offshore breeze, moderate energy (562). The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions” so it’s worth a look, but the crowds might be about if it delivers. By the time we hit the 10th and beyond, it’s either too windy, too small, or too messy.
Honestly, the pick of the whole run is that Saturday 5th September. Everything else is either flat, blown out, or way too thumping for this place.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, strong winds from the WNW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Wed morning, near gales from the WSW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | NNW 6 | N 6 | N 7 | N 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 7 | W 8 | WNW 9 | W 8 | N 8 | N 10 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
40 | 40 | 27 | 34 | 34 | 200 | 696 | 221 | 58 | 846 | 758 | 279 | 127 | 302 | 881 | 1232 | 1361 | 2239 | 8461 | 4634 | 1447 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:45PM3.56m | 8:00AM3.24m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:26PM0.11m | 1:53AM0.09m | 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 | ||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
— | 8:34 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | N 6 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | N 7 | — | NW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | WNW 9 | W 8 | N 8 | N 10 | N 11 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | — | WNW 11 |
40 | 40 | 27 | 80 | 154 | 14 | — | 221 | 57 | 18 | 758 | 279 | 127 | 302 | 223 | 114 | 58 | 50 | 30 | — | 1447 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | NW 6 | N 7 | N 7 | — | — | — | W 9 | — | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | N 11 | W 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 |
4 | 3 | 6 | 34 | 34 | — | — | — | 58 | — | 16 | 240 | 39 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 28 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 7 | W 9 | NW 6 | SW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | W 18 | W 17 | ENE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 7 | W 8 | — | — | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | 200 | 696 | 386 | 227 | 846 | — | — | 167 | 299 | 881 | 1232 | 1361 | 2239 | 8461 | 4634 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 58 | 264 | 3 | 51 | 172 | 345 | 120 | 47 | 96 | 66 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 47 | 475 | 1137 | 422 | 448 | 793 | 2 |
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.











