Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 11s period, W swell with 1,487 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s 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 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 17s 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 2.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 10s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mates, I'm Rusty, and I'm looking at what's cookin' for your local shores.
The first few days are a total bust. We've got a big west swell comin' in on Tuesday the 18th, pushing 6ft with a short, weak 8 second interval, but it's wrecked by a fresh 35 km/h cross-offshore wind. The water's 61°, which is a hair warmer than it should be this time of year. Even when the swell gets a bit more push later that afternoon, hitting 8ft and 9 seconds, the wind's still messing it up. The energy gets up there, but it's no good.
Wednesday morning the 19th looks better on the surface: a 8ft westerly swell with a longer 10 second period, and cleaner conditions with lighter 25 km/h cross-offshore winds. The energy is solid. But here's the rub – that's too big for Magheroaroarty Strand. It's a beginner-friendly point, and 8ft is gonna close out and be dangerous for anyone who's not an expert. By afternoon, the wind shifts and it all falls apart.
From Thursday the 20th, it's a long, sad stretch. The wind howls onshore from the north for days, killing every wave. The swell drops into the ankle-to-knee high stuff. You're looking at a solid 5-day gap where there's nothing worth paddling for. A little 3ft wave shows up on Monday the 24th with clean offshore breezes, but it's weak and slow. It's rideable, but not something you'd tell your friends about.
The only real glimmer is on Wednesday the 2nd of September. That's over a week away, so keep a loose grip on it. The charts call for a chunky 8ft WNW groundswell with a 9 second period, and clean, fresh offshore winds from the south. The energy is strong. But again, for this break, 8ft is big-wave territory. The spot is inconsistent, and when it does fire, you need it to be perfect. Wednesday morning looks good on paper, but only for the experts who can handle a solid, clean overhead point break.
So, no true standouts in this whole 16-day forecast. The best bet is that big, clean swell at the start of September, but it's not for everyone. If you're a ripper, keep an eye on it. For the rest of us, it's a couple weeks of waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Tue afternoon, light winds from the NW by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | NW 6 | NNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 10 | WNW 11 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 409 | 865 | 1349 | 1004 | 770 | 474 | 652 | 419 | 285 | 194 | 122 | 57 | 28 | 14 | 44 | 32 | 48 | 41 | 27 | 180 | 492 |
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 | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 4:41AM2.41m | 5:05PM2.72m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 10:40AM1.02m | 11:16PM0.92m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  | | | |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:58 | — | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — |
mm | — | — | 3 | 5 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WNW 6 | N 5 | WSW 9 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 11 | W 10 |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 1071 | 1004 | 770 | 474 | 148 | 108 | 52 | 21 | 15 | 14 | 22 | 14 | 15 | 32 | 13 | 41 | 19 | 180 | 492 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 16 | W 17 | — | W 17 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | WSW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WSW 9 | WNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | NW 10 | WSW 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | 5 | 6 | — | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 25 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 27 | 7 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 7 | — | — | — | — | W 17 | W 17 | W 16 | N 9 | WSW 9 | W 15 | WSW 9 | W 16 | N 6 | NW 12 | W 14 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 4 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 4 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 11 | — | — | N 4 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | WNW 8 | — | — | — | SE 3 |
| kJ | 409 | 865 | 1349 | — | — | 35 | 652 | 419 | 285 | 194 | 122 | 57 | 28 | 8 | 44 | — | 48 | — | — | — | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 352 | 345 | 58 | 87 | 87 | 128 | 89 | 449 | 361 | 361 | 348 | 259 | 327 | 348 | 181 | 181 | 341 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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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