Magheraroarty Strand Surf Break

Lat Long: 55.15° N 8.15° W

Magheraroarty Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Magheraroarty Strand sea temperature is
16.2° C
1.6° 

Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, W swell with 2,196 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 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 (Aug 18) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s is also forecast. 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Tue 18th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 8s
Best Surf 1PM (Tue 18th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 8s
Most Powerful 4AM (Wed 19th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Right, folks, Rusty here. We're looking at the next couple of weeks at Magheraroarty Strand, and honestly, it's a story of two extremes. The wave energy (combined energy of all swells directed here) will be swinging from a pitiful 25 to a monstrous 7909, but the problem is, when it gets big, it's just too big for this spot. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild to report there.

We kick off Monday the 17th with next to nothing – maybe a knee-high 1ft of weak north swell at 8 seconds. Not worth a second look. That silence stretches right through until Tuesday the 18th, when things start to ramp up, but with a catch. By Tuesday afternoon, we're looking at 8ft of west swell, and the combined energy jumps to 1174. That’s a solid wall of water, but the call is that it's going to be too big for the setup here. The wind is swinging cross-off from the south, so the shape would be there if it wasn't so overpowering. This pattern of "too big" hangs around through Wednesday the 19th, with 10ft (1960 energy) in the morning and 8ft (1231 energy) in the afternoon. The wind on Wednesday afternoon goes light and cross, which would be nice for the wave face, but the swell height is still a problem.

Thursday the 20th through to the end of the first week is a write-off. Onshore north wind and dropping swell, just messy conditions.

Now, here's where we get a bit of hope for the second week. The whole period from Monday the 25th onward is dominated by west and northwest swells. Monday the 25th afternoon shows a small, clean 3ft of northwest swell with a beautiful, long 12-second period. That’s a groundswell – better shaped waves and longer waits between sets, which is fine – but the wave energy is only 169, so it’s not powerful. The real standout, and I mean THE standout of this whole forecast, lands on Thursday the 27th. The early morning is blowing up to a massive 15ft of west swell with a stunning 14-second period, but the combined energy reading is a terrifying 7909. That's way, way too big for Magheraroarty. However, look at the Thursday afternoon update. It drops to 16ft (7694 energy) from the WNW, with clean, cross-offshore wind from the southwest. The call says it's too big, but for the absolute elite-level charger, this could be a once-in-a-blue-moon event. It’s a massive, long-period groundswell with clean conditions, and the direction matches the optimum (NNW) reasonably well. For anyone else, it's a no-go zone.

Following that, Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th mornings are still big but clean, with 8ft (1230 energy) and 7ft (821 energy) respectively, and clean, light winds. Saturday afternoon it drops right off back to tiny, onshore junk, and then the final Monday the 31st sees another massive 15ft (7522 energy) pulse but again, too big for this break. So, if you're a beginner or intermediate, this is not your window. If you're a proper expert, then Thursday the 27th afternoon is the only show in town – a massive clean groundswell, but bring your biggest board and all your courage. It will be inconsistent.

For the rest of us, it's a blank fortnight with one massive, dangerous peak in the middle. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on those big days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Tue night, light winds from the WNW by Wed afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), 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 Thu morning, light winds from the NNW by Fri night).

Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
!
!
!
!
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
N
8
0.4
N
7
0.3
N
7
1.9
W
8
2.5
W
10
3
W
11
3
W
11
2.4
W
10
1.7
WNW
10
2.2
N
8
1.8
N
7
1.7
N
7
1.5
N
6
1.1
N
6
0.9
N
5
0.8
NNW
5
0.9
NW
5
1.1
NW
6
1.4
NW
7
1.3
WNW
7
1.2
NW
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
18
16
8
399
1170
1873
1960
1231
551
535
339
247
164
78
45
28
38
72
178
154
143
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
15
S
30
WSW
35
WSW
35
WSW
40
WSW
30
WSW
10
W
25
N
35
NNE
30
N
25
N
25
N
25
N
20
N
15
NW
20
NW
25
W
25
WNW
25
W
20
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
9:42AM3.06m
10:01PM3.21m
10:20AM2.87m
10:40PM2.89m
11:00AM2.67m
11:23PM2.58m
11:51AM2.46m
00:22AM2.31m
1:08PM2.31m
1:58AM2.17m
2:55PM2.31m
3:39AM2.23m
4:15PM2.49m
Low Tide
3:40PM0.33m
4:09AM0.50m
4:20PM0.61m
4:47AM0.78m
5:05PM0.91m
5:32AM1.05m
6:04PM1.19m
6:36AM1.27m
7:35PM1.36m
8:14AM1.35m
9:22PM1.32m
9:43AM1.24m
10:31PM1.14m
light rain
mod rain
light rain
cloud
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:16
6:18
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:02
9:00
8:58
8:55
8:52
8:51
8:47
 mm
2
6
1
1
6
5
1
3
1
Temp °C
15
16
15
15
15
14
15
15
14
14
13
13
13
13
13
14
14
14
14
14
14
Feels °C
13
11
11
9
8
7
11
13
10
7
6
7
7
7
9
12
10
10
10
10
11
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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