Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, N swell with 1,106 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s 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 16) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 7s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what Magheraroarty Strand has to offer over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, this is a fickle point break. It’s inconsistent and only really works when the swell comes from the north-northwest. The water temp is about 60°F, which is a bit warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least it’s not freezing.
The first few days are a total bust. Thursday the 13th through Saturday the 15th of August are flat, messy, or blown out by cross-onshore winds. Not a single decent wave in that stretch.
Sunday the 16th is our first real chance. The morning is still so-so with a light offshore, but the afternoon goes glassy. Swell is a tiny 2 to 3 feet from the northwest, with a period of 7 seconds and weak energy. It’s surfable, but barely. Crowds? Never a problem here.
Monday the 17th is small again, but Tuesday the 18th morning perks up a bit. We get a 5-foot west swell with an 8-second period and moderate energy (300). The wind is light and cross-offshore, so the waves should be reasonably clean. This is the best window in the first week, though tide conditions might be iffy.
From Wednesday the 19th onward, things get lumpy. Swell bumps up to 6 to 7 feet from the west-northwest, but the wind cranks to 30 km/h cross-onshore, making it choppy and better for kites than paddling. Energy is high (475-617), but the quality is poor.
The second week is mostly flat or weak. Saturday the 22nd starts glassy with a tiny 0.3-foot swell from the west, but the period is a very long 16 seconds – a groundswell with no push. The rest of the week is a mix of small, poorly aligned swells with onshore winds, dropping into flat calm by Thursday the 27th.
The standout? Tuesday morning the 18th of August. That 5-foot west swell with light cross-offshore wind is the only real opportunity here. After that, it’s a long wait. For an inconsistent spot like this, flat spells are just part of the deal.
Keep your eyes on the horizon, but don’t hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 13°C on Sun afternoon). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, strong winds from the SW by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 10 | N 11 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 2 | 153 | 109 | 143 | 226 | 204 | 163 | 91 | 52 | 33 | 28 | 17 | 413 | 299 | 431 | 1060 | 826 | 694 | 760 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 10:20AM2.87m | 10:40PM2.89m | 11:00AM2.67m | 11:23PM2.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:09AM0.50m | 4:20PM0.61m | 4:47AM0.78m | 5:05PM0.91m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | |
— | 9:12 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:58 | — | |
mm | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | — | 1 | 2 | 8 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Temp °C | 20 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 20 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | N 10 | WNW 9 | N 9 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | WSW 8 | N 8 | W 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | W 17 | W 17 | W 17 | W 16 |
294 | 176 | 153 | 7 | 16 | 7 | 204 | 163 | 91 | 52 | 96 | 28 | 61 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 11 | N 10 | — | N 9 | — | N 9 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | NNW 9 | N 8 | NW 6 | N 7 | W 18 | W 16 | — | N 7 | — | — | — |
— | 2 | 8 | — | 7 | — | 6 | 9 | 17 | 25 | 33 | 7 | 17 | 6 | 5 | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | N 9 | WSW 6 | NW 7 | W 18 | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | SW 4 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 9 | NW 8 |
— | — | — | 109 | 143 | 226 | — | — | — | — | — | 137 | 19 | 413 | 299 | 431 | 1060 | 826 | 694 | 760 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 58 | 372 | 832 | 553 | 1073 | 832 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 36 | 55 | 352 | 188 | 58 | 66 | 433 | 414 |
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.











