
Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 11s period, WNW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, WNW swell with 1,207 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period. 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 2.3m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1AM. 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 7s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, your local surf reporter. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next 16 days, starting with the 11th of August.
Right off the bat, we've got a bit of a flat spell. For the first few days, the surf is tiny, with a weak, low-energy swell that's just not doing much. The water temp is sitting at 60°F, which is about average for this time of year, thanks to a 2°F anomaly – nothing to write home about.
The first real standout comes on Sunday, the 16th of August. We're looking at a clean, surfable window at Magheroarty Strand. The morning kicks off with a 3 ft swell from the NW, with a moderate wave energy (129), but it's a bit crossed-off. The real gem is the Sunday afternoon session: a 2 ft N swell, 9-second period, and a clean 111 energy. The wind swings light southerly, going glassy-offshore, so it'll be clean and smooth. This is a beginner-friendly spot, and it's inconsistent, so it might not be pumping, but when it's this clean, it's a nice little session. Crowds are never an issue here.
The forecast gets a bit more interesting from the 18th, but it's mostly for the big dogs. Tuesday, the 18th of August sees a 6 ft West-Northwest swell with 10-second period and a solid 659 energy in the afternoon. The wind is cross-off, so it should be clean, but it's still marginal. Things get serious from Wednesday, the 19th through to the end of the run. The swell jumps to 8 ft+, with combined energy readings hitting well over 1000, even reaching 2070 by the 25th. This is strong, powerful stuff. However, the consistent message from the models is that this swell is predicted to be too big for this break. The wind is often cross-onshore or fresh, making it choppy and lumpy. This is a point break, but with that much energy, it's going to be a heavy, punishing wave. This is not for the faint of heart; it's a strictly expert-only zone. The period is around 8 to 11 seconds, so it's a mix of wind and groundswell, and with the size, it'll be a real challenge.
So, to wrap it up: if you're looking for a clean, easy-going wave, your best bet is Sunday afternoon, the 16th of August at Magheroarty Strand. For the rest of the run, it's either too small or way too big. The big swell from the 19th onward is a real spectacle, but it's a beast that'll chew you up if you're not ready.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 22°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | W 10 | N 11 | W 9 | WNW 4 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
33 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 125 | 10 | 187 | 243 | 204 | 164 | 99 | 57 | 48 | 28 | 17 | 8 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:59PM3.44m | 6:25AM3.20m | 6:45PM3.69m | 7:09AM3.31m | 7:28PM3.83m | 7:49AM3.35m | 8:08PM3.84m | 8:28AM3.31m | 8:47PM3.72m | 9:05AM3.21m | 9:24PM3.50m | 9:42AM3.06m | 10:01PM3.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:12AM0.17m | 12:21PM0.14m | 00:58AM-0.02m | 1:04PM-0.03m | 1:40AM-0.11m | 1:44PM-0.09m | 2:19AM-0.08m | 2:23PM-0.04m | 2:57AM0.04m | 3:01PM0.10m | 3:33AM0.24m | 3:40PM0.33m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | N 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 7 |
33 | 236 | 235 | 210 | 303 | 306 | 240 | 176 | 125 | 68 | 16 | 243 | 204 | 164 | 99 | 54 | 48 | 90 | 51 | 40 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | — | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NNW 10 | N 9 | NW 7 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 |
8 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 57 | 22 | 28 | 17 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | W 10 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 6 |
7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 6 | 4 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | SSE 2 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 4 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 4 |
1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 187 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 3 | 9 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 58 | 58 | 833 | 392 | 259 | 433 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 55 | 9 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Donegal | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











