Magheraroarty Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the next couple of weeks up at Magheraroarty Strand. It’s a wild ride ahead with a lot of big water, so strap in.

Right now, we’re kicking things off on Friday afternoon the 11th with a bit of a nothing-burger. There’s a 6ft west swell rolling in, but the wind is a messy cross-off from the southwest at 16 mph, and the water’s sitting at a touch warmer than average 60°F. The combined energy is moderate (694), but honestly, it’s all just a bit of a letdown.

Saturday the 12th is a different story, but not in a good one for most of us. That westerly swell pumps up to 10ft in the morning with a gusty 22 mph cross-off. It’s a monster, and combined energy is strong (2634), but it’s simply too big for your average session. By the afternoon, it drops to 8ft from the west-northwest, but the wind swings cross-on and it gets choppy. This one is for the big-wave chargers only.

The first real standout that gets me excited is Sunday morning, the 13th. We’ve got clean 5ft swell from the northwest (505 combined energy), and the wind is light and offshore from the south at just 6 mph. Glassy conditions, long period of 11 seconds... this is going to be smooth, lined-up, and so, so good. For a point break that’s normally inconsistent, this is a beautiful window. Get on it early.

Sunday afternoon drops off a bit to 5ft, but it’s still clean with a light cross-off. Monday the 14th sees the swell drop to a weak 2ft, but it’s offshore and clean. Not much power (215 combined energy), but you might find a longboard wave if you’re desperate.

Then we get another surge mid-week. Tuesday the 15th, it’s back up to 8ft from the west, but the cross-shore wind and chop make it messy. Not worth it. Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th are pure chaos with 8ft to 12ft of northwest swell and howling winds. This is full-on storm surf. The combined energy hits staggering numbers (2778 on Thursday morning), but it’s a washing machine with a near-gale cross-shore. The break is a beach-and-reef setup, so honestly, this looks way more fun for the kite surfers than us.

Friday the 18th is another day for experts only. The swell sits at 8ft from the west-northwest, and while the wind is cross-off and the face is clean, the size and power (1568 combined energy) mean only the most experienced should paddle out.

Things finally start to settle a bit the weekend of the 20th, but those waves are still big. Sunday the 20th has a 8ft west-northwest groundswell with a nice 12-second period. The wind is offshore from the south-southwest, so it will be clean, but the combined energy is strong (1679). It’s a clean, powerful wave, but paddling out will be a mission.

By Tuesday the 22nd, we drop back to a much friendlier 6ft. The wind stays cross-off, and combined energy is moderate (710). This is a session you could actually enjoy without fearing for your life.

Then, just when you think it’s all over... Wednesday the 23rd is small and clean. But hold on to your board shorts for the 24th of September. The forecast shows a massive 18ft groundswell from the west-northwest with a 15-second period. Combined energy is an insane 12133. The wind is light and offshore. This is a true once-in-a-season event. It’s for absolute experts only, but what a spectacle. That long period will make it wrap perfectly around the point, but the power is unreal.

After that, it stays big and windy through the 25th and 26th with 7ft to 6ft waves and strong winds, fading out into a clean but small finish.

So, to sum it up: Sunday the 13th is your best bet for fun, clean waves that everyone can get a piece of. If you’re a straight-up charger, Thursday the 24th is the one to circle on the calendar, but it’s a beast. Everything else in the middle is either too big, too messy, or too small. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty.

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