
Surf Forecasts:
Magheraroarty Strand surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 15 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 14s period, WNW swell with 11,098 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s 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 (Sep 13) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s 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 5.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) 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 2.1m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Magheraroarty Strand over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, with a look at what's on the cards for Magheraroarty Strand.
We've got a bit of a slow start this week, and honestly, the ocean is going to be a bit of a beast for a lot of this outlook. The water is sitting at a toasty 60°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year.
The real standout, the one worth circling on your calendar, is Sunday morning, the 13th. After a weekend of messy, oversized swell, the ocean finally hands us a gift. We'll see a clean 5ft swell from the NW, with a light offshore wind from the SSW. The combined energy is moderate at 496, and the period is a solid 11 seconds, meaning proper groundswell that'll wrap in nicely. It's a beginner-friendly size, and with crowds never an issue here, it's your best chance for some smooth, easy rides. Sunday afternoon stays clean and fun too, with a smaller 4ft WNW swell and 10-second period.
We then have a few days of small, clean surf, like Monday morning the 14th with a tiny 2ft N swell and offshore winds, but the energy is low (211), so it's more of a longboard or foiling session.
Things get heavy from the 15th onwards. The swell jumps up to 7ft and bigger, with strong fresh winds from the WNW creating lumpy, cross-onshore conditions. The energy shoots into the thousands (869-8851), meaning very strong wave power, but the quality is poor. From Thursday the 17th through the following Monday, we're looking at serious, angry surf - 12ft to 16ft WNW swells with near-gale force winds at times. The combined energy is insane (up to 8851), but it's just too big and battered. This is strictly for the boldest experts, and honestly, even then, the wind and chop will make it a war zone. For paddle surfing, it's a no-go; this setup is more interesting for kite surfing.
After the big stuff, we get a window around Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd of September. Tuesday morning sees a clean 8ft NW swell with light E winds, then Tuesday afternoon drops to a very clean 6ft NW swell with only a slight air from the SSE. That afternoon session with 6ft and glassy conditions would be a good, clean option.
Beyond that, the energy fades away completely. By the 26th and 27th of September, we're looking at tiny 0.7ft to 1ft NW swells and weak energy (7 to 33), with poor surf conditions. It's a flat finish to a big, dramatic forecast period.
All told, the best bet is Sunday morning, the 13th for a clean, fun surf. The rest of the week is a mix of either too small or way too big and messy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat night, near gales from the WSW by Mon night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the W on Wed morning, strong winds from the SW by Fri morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 12 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 10 | WNW 9 | N 13 | N 13 | N 12 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 8 | W 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | W 12 | WNW 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1707 | 1012 | 496 | 309 | 141 | 163 | 156 | 103 | 783 | 696 | 860 | 1282 | 800 | 616 | 1318 | 3800 | 7602 | 4689 | 3392 | 2911 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:41PM3.75m | 7:59AM3.39m | 8:15PM3.61m | 8:32AM3.31m | 8:48PM3.39m | 9:04AM3.17m | 9:21PM3.11m | 9:37AM2.98m | 9:55PM2.81m | 10:13AM2.75m | 10:34PM2.51m | 10:59AM2.50m | 11:27PM2.24m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:49AM-0.07m | 1:56PM-0.02m | 2:21AM0.06m | 2:31PM0.13m | 2:52AM0.27m | 3:06PM0.36m | 3:24AM0.53m | 3:42PM0.64m | 3:57AM0.80m | 4:22PM0.94m | 4:37AM1.08m | 5:16PM1.23m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
7:58 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 12 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 10 | WNW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 11 | N 12 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 9 | N 9 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | W 12 | — |
1707 | 1012 | 496 | 309 | 141 | 161 | 469 | 103 | 86 | 58 | 47 | 15 | 14 | 51 | 54 | 24 | 7602 | 4689 | 3392 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | N 13 | N 13 | — | — | — | — | N 9 | N 9 | — | — | — | N 8 | — | — | — |
352 | 240 | 149 | 153 | 113 | 163 | 156 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 14 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | — | — | N 16 | N 12 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | 19 | 80 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 2 | — | WSW 10 | W 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 8 | W 10 | WNW 12 | — | — | — | WNW 11 |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 678 | 783 | 696 | 860 | 1282 | 800 | 616 | 1318 | 3800 | — | — | — | 2911 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 120 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 341 | 352 | 793 | 483 | 163 | 120 | 47 | 394 | 429 | 482 | 345 | 774 | 1073 |
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.










