Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s period, SW swell with 344 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Red Strand (Dirk Bay) in the next 16 days are 1.2m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let's cut through it. This stretch is a write-off.
We're stuck with Red Strand (Dirk Bay), a protected reef. Over the full 16-day window, there isn't a single session worth chasing. Everything shows as "poor surf conditions." You're looking at a full week with nothing decent on the table. Even the least-worst days are still a no-go.
From now through the end of August, we've got tiny surf, mostly under 3ft, and the wind is a constant headache. Monday the 24th has a clean-ish cross-off breeze, but the swell is a weak 4ft from the east with a short, weak 5-second period. The combined energy is low (107). The water sits at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the year. But with the onshore winds coming back and that short period, it's just a mess. That pattern of small swell and ugly wind hangs around. By Sunday the 30th, a risk of thunderstorms brings a strong cross-onshore wind as the swell tries to build, but it's just getting blown to bits. The energy bumps a little on Sunday afternoon (492), but with strong onshore wind and short period, you're looking at a total washout.
The first week of September is the same old story. A couple of mornings look clean, like Wednesday the 2nd with a light offshore, but the swell is still under 3ft. It's a classic tease. The real power finally shows up on September 6th – a solid 12ft SSW groundswell arrives with a 12-second period and combined energy of (3617). That's serious ocean. But it's a cross-shore wind and that kind of long period on a sheltered reef can make it hard to find a clean wave. That's an expert-only zone, if anyone is out there. A look at the 7th shows a cleaner, smaller drop to 3ft with a long 16-second period and cross-off breeze, but that's one Monday morning two weeks away, and it's still rated as poor.
To be straight with you, the only thing this setup is built for is a kite session on the windy, choppy days. For a surfer, there are no good options in this 16-day run. It's a dry spell, but for a sheltered spot like this in late summer, it's not completely weird. Forecasts can flip, but for now, leave your board in the car.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 15°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ENE on Mon morning, light winds from the NE by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SE on Thu afternoon, calm by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 5 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | E 5 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 7 | E 6 | SSE 7 | SSW 7 | SE 5 | S 11 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SW 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 62 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 22 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 48 | 77 | 85 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 28 | 18 | 149 | 329 | 344 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:45PM2.61m | 4:09AM2.65m | 4:31PM2.81m | 4:50AM2.86m | 5:09PM3.01m | 5:26AM3.05m | 5:44PM3.19m | 6:00AM3.22m | 6:17PM3.34m | 6:33AM3.35m | 6:51PM3.43m | 7:07AM3.43m | 7:25PM3.46m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:06PM0.91m | 10:25AM0.82m | 10:49PM0.72m | 11:05AM0.62m | 11:26PM0.54m | 11:41AM0.44m | 00:01AM0.38m | 12:15PM0.30m | 00:34AM0.27m | 12:49PM0.21m | 1:06AM0.21m | 1:22PM0.18m | 1:39AM0.21m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:27 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | 1 | 5 | 4 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SE 5 | SE 5 | S 6 | SSW 6 | S 6 | SSW 7 | S 11 | SSW 7 | SW 11 |
| kJ | 40 | 36 | 168 | 83 | 11 | 22 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 48 | 51 | 85 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 163 | 344 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | S 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 4 | SSE 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | S 12 | SSW 7 | S 6 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | W 10 | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 1 | 35 | 34 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | S 12 | S 11 | SE 5 | — | — | W 13 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 7 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 4 | ESE 4 | ENE 4 | E 6 | — | NW 2 | W 3 | WSW 5 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | WNW 3 |
| kJ | 62 | 155 | 197 | 20 | 33 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 77 | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 28 | 18 | 149 | 329 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 93 | 93 | 59 | 5 | 88 | 5 | 88 | 102 | 93 | 58 | 93 | 5 | 24 | 132 | 111 | 93 | 111 | 111 | 284 | 297 | 274 |
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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