Magheraroarty Strand Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright lads, Rusty here, looking at the only break that's got any pulse in the region for the next couple weeks. We’ve got one spot, so let’s be honest.

Magheraroarty Strand is an inconsistent point break that’s wide open to the north-northwest. Water temp is running about 60°, which is a touch above normal for this time of the season – not bad. The pattern is a slow start, then a big, dangerous pulse at the end that’s only for the hardcore.

First week is a total dud for proper surfing. Tuesday starts small and clean with a weak 2ft from the north, but there’s barely any energy (107) and it’s poor surf. That same story runs through Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with tiny, gutless waves. Friday the 14th gets a bump to 4ft from the west, but the wind is howling cross-shore with a short 9-second period (224). It’s a messy, choppy mess. Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th are more of the same – windy, cross-shore junk in the 3ft to 5ft range. Not worth the drive.

Monday the 17th offers a glimmer of something ridable – 3ft from the west with light cross-off winds (127). Conditions are clean, but “surfable but very ordinary” says it all. A couple of close-outs for the kids, maybe.

Then it goes dead again on Tuesday and Wednesday of the second week with microscopic swell and strong offshore wind – glassy surface but nothing to ride.

Now here’s the real show. On Thursday the 20th of August, we see the swell start building. By Friday the 21st of August, the forecast blows up with a heavy 8ft from the west-northwest at 11 seconds. The combined energy is huge at 1379. The wind is screaming offshore from the south at 28 mph, so the face will be glassy clean. But listen – at 8ft and climbing, this is expert-only territory. The forecast is blunt: too big for this break. This isn't for beginners; it’s a challenging, powerful groundswell that will be relentless. Saturday the 22nd stays big but gets wrecked by strong west-northwest cross-shore winds, turning it into a washing machine. That is the one standout event in the whole window, and unless you’re a charger on a big gun, it’s just a spectacle.

Overall, the northwest coast of Ireland is facing a long, flat spell until that big blow-up on the 21st. For the average surfer, there’s nothing to get excited about for the next week. If you’re an expert, pencil in Friday the 21st for a dawn session at Magheraroarty Strand, but be ready for a heavy one. Those windy, cross-shore days in the middle of the period honestly look more fun for a kite than a paddle surf.

Rusty.

Read more