Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 20 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 20 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, SW swell with 109 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 20 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) this week:
The surf forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Red Strand (Dirk Bay) in the next 16 days are 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 20) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sun 20th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into it. Honestly, looking at the next couple of weeks, we're in a bit of a flat spell. The surf is going to be a tough watch for a while, so don't get your hopes up too high.
There's not a single standout session in this whole 16-day run. The first real chance to even get wet won't come until Tuesday the 22nd of September. Before that, we've got a solid week of tiny, weak waves and mostly messy wind. From the 15th right through to the 21st, it's all poor surf conditions with swell heights barely pushing 3 ft and combined energy readings struggling to get past 94 – that's weak energy, plain and simple. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off at best, but the swell just isn't there to make it worthwhile.
The only window that looks half-decent is the morning of Tuesday the 22nd at Red Strand (Dirk Bay). The wind goes glassy, which is a major positive, and there's a little 3 ft of swell from the SSW. The combined energy is still low at 77, but that glassy surface will make it feel cleaner than it looks. That's about as good as it gets, and it's not saying much.
After that, it's back to tiny waves and a mix of onshore and cross-shore winds right through to the end of the month. The water temperature is about average for the time of year here, nothing unusual to report.
Look, it's a quiet period. Sometimes you just have to swallow it. The breaks are fairly consistent here, so it won't stay like this forever. Forecasts change. For now, keep your board in the car for that Tuesday morning glass-off, but don't expect a classic.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon night, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Tue night, fresh winds from the WSW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | SW 6 | W 4 | SW 7 | WSW 6 | SW 5 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 27 | 31 | 46 | 8 | 5 | 28 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 25 | 51 | 67 | 61 | 66 | 46 | 32 | 26 | 17 | 17 | 10 | 20 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:17AM3.34m | 8:36PM3.18m | 8:54AM3.13m | 9:13PM2.94m | 9:33AM2.88m | 9:54PM2.68m | 10:18AM2.64m | 10:44PM2.44m | 11:17AM2.42m | 11:55PM2.28m | 12:40PM2.32m | 1:28AM2.26m | 2:11PM2.38m | 2:46AM2.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:29PM0.36m | 2:44AM0.49m | 3:05PM0.58m | 3:20AM0.71m | 3:46PM0.82m | 4:03AM0.93m | 4:37PM1.05m | 5:02AM1.14m | 5:50PM1.21m | 6:27AM1.25m | 7:22PM1.24m | 7:57AM1.20m | 8:39PM1.12m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — |
 | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 7 | W 10 | S 13 | SW 6 | SSW 5 | SW 7 | S 18 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 6 | SSW 14 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 |
| kJ | 27 | 31 | 46 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 32 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSW 4 | S 11 | W 10 | S 11 | S 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | W 10 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | S 7 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 7 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | S 18 | S 11 | S 13 | — | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | W 10 | W 10 | SSW 16 | W 10 | W 10 | W 13 | W 10 | S 11 | — | — | S 10 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | W 3 | NW 3 | — | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | W 3 | W 4 | WNW 3 | WSW 6 | SW 5 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | — | SSW 5 | S 4 | S 4 | S 3 | S 4 |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | 3 | — | 5 | 28 | 7 | 15 | 1 | 25 | 51 | 67 | 61 | 66 | 46 | — | 26 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 467 | 467 | 293 | 103 | 434 | 630 | 631 | 467 | 278 | 103 | 303 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 37 | 71 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 90 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cork | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Red Strand (Dirk Bay) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Red Strand (Dirk Bay) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Red Strand (Dirk Bay) 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 (Red Strand (Dirk Bay)) 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 Red Strand (Dirk Bay) 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Cork? If you are looking for accommodation near Red Strand (Dirk Bay), camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Cork, consider staying in Kinsale which is 34 km (21 miles) away. Other places in and around Cork where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Bantry which is 39 km (24 miles) away, Cork, Cobh and Youghal.
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