Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period, NW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, WNW swell with 739 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period with NW 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Magheraroarty Strand in the next 16 days are 1.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 7AM. 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, lads, Rusty here. Let's have a proper look at what the Atlantic's got cookin' for us, specifically up at Magheroarty Strand on the northwest coast.
We're in for a bit of a slow start, but the wait will be worth it. The real highlight is a solid pulse of groundswell due in on Monday the 24th. That day's the standout of the whole run. We've got a clean 6ft swell rolling in from the WNW with a long 11-second period, which is proper groundswell energy. The combined energy reading is a solid 698, so there's some real punch in the water. The wind's glassin' off from the SE, keeping things tidy. That's a classic combo – good power and clean conditions. This size is manageable for most intermediates, but with that kind of period, it'll be better shaped and have longer lulls between sets, making the paddle out a bit easier. It's an exposed spot, so it'll be taking the full force.
Before that, the early run is pretty grim. Friday the 21st through Sunday the 23rd is a write-off – lumpy, onshore winds, and barely any swell to speak of. It’s a full three days of poor conditions. Hold your horses.
After the Monday high, the swell drops off quickly. Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th see a return to small, weak surf with fresh onshores – not worth gettin' wet for. There's a tiny window on Sunday the 30th where the wind goes glassy in the morning, but the swell's a weak 4ft with a short 7-second period – it'll be crumbly and small, only really any good for a beginner on a foamie.
Looking further out, towards the end of the first week of September, there's another noticeable pulse. On Thursday the 3rd of September, we see a 6ft WNW swell clocking in with a combined energy of 806. However, the wind is onshore, which will mess it up. Bigger swell, but not clean.
The most promising long-range look is actually Saturday the 5th of September. We've got a clean 6ft swell from the NW with light offshore winds from the south. The wind's in the right direction for the optimum NNW swell direction, and combined with the glassy morning, it could be a real gem. It's a long way out, so take it with a grain of salt, but the signs are good. For the most part, the consistency here is poor, so a blank run is fairly normal.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Mon morning, fresh winds from the ESE by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | N 6 | N 5 | N 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
173 | 126 | 59 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 23 | 55 | 428 | 698 | 607 | 320 | 205 | 151 | 13 | 18 | 35 | 33 | 56 | 139 | 94 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:08PM2.31m | 1:58AM2.17m | 2:55PM2.31m | 3:39AM2.23m | 4:15PM2.49m | 4:41AM2.41m | 5:05PM2.72m | 5:23AM2.61m | 5:42PM2.96m | 5:57AM2.80m | 6:15PM3.18m | 6:29AM2.96m | 6:45PM3.36m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:35PM1.36m | 8:14AM1.35m | 9:22PM1.32m | 9:43AM1.24m | 10:31PM1.14m | 10:40AM1.02m | 11:16PM0.92m | 11:20AM0.78m | 11:52PM0.69m | 11:54AM0.55m | 00:24AM0.47m | 12:25PM0.35m | 00:54AM0.29m | ||||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:38 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 9 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | N 5 | WSW 9 | NNW 5 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 10 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | WSW 8 | NNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 |
21 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 26 | 10 | 23 | 55 | 428 | 698 | 607 | 320 | 205 | 151 | 76 | 33 | 19 | 33 | 56 | 139 | 94 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WSW 10 | WNW 6 | WSW 9 | WNW 9 | WSW 8 | W 10 | — | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | N 9 | N 9 | WSW 7 |
16 | 11 | 5 | 31 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 8 | — | 54 | 41 | 12 | 28 | 13 | 18 | 35 | 15 | 27 | 25 | 52 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 14 | W 17 | W 16 | N 9 | N 9 | WNW 10 | WSW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | NW 11 | NW 8 | N 10 | NE 5 | NNW 11 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 4 | N 8 |
4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 20 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 22 | 17 | 16 | 4 | 12 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 6 | N 6 | N 5 | WNW 5 | NNW 5 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | E 6 | E 4 | ESE 3 | E 3 | E 4 | — | — | — |
173 | 126 | 59 | 11 | 14 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 11 | 21 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 348 | 348 | 249 | 183 | 348 | 341 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 98 | 214 | 36 | 9 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 312 |
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.











