Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, W swell with 1,862 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 2.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 7s 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 3.0m 11s 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 Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, lads, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next stretch for Magheroaroarty Strand. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, so we gotta pick our moments. The water’s sitting at 61°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a bit of a bonus.
The window kicks off with a sluggish start. Monday the 17th has a bit of knee-high slop, with a weak 1ft swell and short period. Not worth getting wet for. Tuesday sees a bump in size but it’s messy, with onshore winds and poor conditions. We’re looking at a couple of days of building swell, but it’s all pretty jumbled.
Then we get to Wednesday the 19th. This is where things get interesting. The swell jumps to 8ft with a longer 11-second period, and the energy is pumping at 1678. The wind is cross-offshore, which is good, but the call is that this is just too big for this break. It’s a standout for power, but for the average punter, it’s going to be a handful. The afternoon stays big at 8ft, but the wind swings cross-on and it gets choppy.
Thursday and Friday are write-offs with onshore winds and a dropping, junky swell. We’re looking at a few days of not much. The weekend stays pretty ordinary, with small, weak swells and cross-shore winds. Not great.
The first week is, honestly, a bit of a letdown. There’s that one big pulse on the 19th, but it’s for experts only. The standouts are few and far between. The surf really doesn't find its groove until much later.
Looking into the second week, the 26th of August shapes up as the one to circle. We’ve got a clean 4ft to 5ft swell from the WNW with a decent 11-second period. The wind is offshore and it’s looking like a proper surfable day. The energy is moderate at 394 to 425, but the conditions are clean. This is the highlight of the entire period. It’s not huge, but it’ll be fun.
After that, it drops back down into mediocrity until the very end. The 30th of August sees another big pulse, 7ft, but again, it’s flagged as too big for this break, and the wind is on it. The 1st of September also has a big 8ft swell, but the wind is howling from the southeast at 25 mph, which is going to ruin it.
So, if you’re keen, make a plan for Wednesday the 26th of August. That’s the pick of the fortnight. The windows around the 19th and 30th are just too big and not clean enough, more of a spectacle than a surf. It’s a long wait, but there’s one gem in there. The rest is a lot of flatness or blown-out mush.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNE on Thu morning, light winds from the N 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 | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
18 | 16 | 8 | 367 | 770 | 1657 | 1468 | 1119 | 563 | 454 | 378 | 219 | 173 | 92 | 53 | 20 | 21 | 26 | 33 | 32 | 21 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | ||||||||
6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:58 | — | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:47 | — | |
mm | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | WSW 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | — | W 17 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | NNW 6 | N 6 | WNW 7 |
140 | 113 | 8 | 4 | 1 | — | 6 | 1119 | 563 | 175 | 106 | 68 | 33 | 22 | 24 | 31 | 28 | 16 | 33 | 20 | 21 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 7 | W 18 | W 16 | W 17 | — | W 18 | — | N 10 | W 16 | W 16 | W 15 | WSW 8 | WSW 9 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 16 | WNW 9 | WSW 9 | WNW 8 | NNW 6 |
18 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 6 | — | 6 | — | 8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 32 | 12 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 16 | — | — | — | W 15 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | N 9 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 |
7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | — | N 4 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | — | — | — |
— | — | 208 | 367 | 770 | 1657 | 1468 | — | 28 | 454 | 378 | 219 | 173 | 92 | 53 | 20 | 21 | 26 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 23 | 9 | 344 | 352 | 433 | 96 | 96 | 87 | 133 | 128 | 341 | 381 | 259 | 348 | 98 | 183 | 361 | 181 | 58 | 163 | 9 |
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.











