Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, WSW swell with 2,304 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 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) 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 0.5m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next 16 days at Red Strand over at Dirk Bay.
Honestly, it’s a grim outlook. There isn’t a single window where you’d want to be in the water. We’re looking at a long stretch of nothing – no real surf to speak of. For a spot that usually holds up fairly consistent, this is an unusually barren run, but these flat spells do happen around here. Keep an eye on the charts; things can change quick.
Starting Saturday, September 5th, we’ve got a tiny 1ft swell from the SSW with a 14-second period. The combined wave energy is weak at just 50. That’s not going to get anyone out of bed, especially with onshore wind messing up the surface. Sunday the 6th brings a bump to 5ft from the S, but the period crashes to a short 6 seconds and the wind is blowing a solid 22 mph onshore. The combined energy climbs to 188 (moderate), but the quality is awful – that’s kite-surfing territory, not for a paddle surfer. Monday the 7th offers a 4ft SW swell with a longer 13-second period, which sounds promising, but strong cross-onshore winds at 18-25 mph tear it apart. The combined energy hits 378 (moderate), but conditions are still a total mess.
From Tuesday the 8th on, it’s a slow slide into flatness. Swell drops below 2ft and never really recovers. Winds do turn clean and cross-offshore at times, but with no wave height, it’s just a pretty, flat ocean. There are a few glassy mornings around the 16th, but with waves barely 0.5ft, there’s nothing to ride. A couple of longer-period pulses show up on the 12th (15 seconds) and the 19th (16 seconds), but they’re tiny and blowy, so just another tease.
Bottom line: there’s no standout day, no hidden gem. The water temp is 63°, which is a touch warmer than usual for early September, but that’s the only highlight. Leave the board in the car and wait for the next swell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Sat morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sun morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu night, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 13 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 7 | SW 11 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | SW 7 | SSW 4 | S 6 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 37 | 35 | 54 | 138 | 171 | 330 | 363 | 84 | 112 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 23 | 26 | 86 | 74 | 53 | 31 | 15 | 20 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:51AM2.73m | 00:34AM2.61m | 1:17PM2.69m | 2:02AM2.65m | 2:40PM2.83m | 3:16AM2.85m | 3:46PM3.07m | 4:14AM3.10m | 4:39PM3.31m | 5:02AM3.33m | 5:24PM3.50m | 5:45AM3.50m | 6:06PM3.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:30PM0.93m | 7:11AM0.96m | 8:03PM0.89m | 8:38AM0.84m | 9:19PM0.71m | 9:46AM0.62m | 10:18PM0.48m | 10:39AM0.38m | 11:07PM0.27m | 11:25AM0.18m | 11:49PM0.12m | 12:06PM0.05m | 00:27AM0.05m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — |
mm | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WSW 14 | SSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 8 | WSW 8 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 7 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SW 8 |
| kJ | 11 | 35 | 34 | 17 | 16 | 330 | 14 | 79 | 112 | 24 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 65 | 74 | 53 | 22 | 12 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | WSW 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | S 6 | SE 5 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 7 | W 13 | — | — | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 8 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 37 | 4 | 34 | 33 | 13 | 29 | 1 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 57 | 43 | 31 | 15 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | — | SSW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 11 | — | — | — | W 10 | SSE 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 16 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 45 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | W 3 | SW 13 | SW 7 | W 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 2 | — | SW 7 | SSW 4 | S 6 | — | W 2 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | — |
| kJ | — | 9 | 54 | 138 | 171 | 1 | 363 | 84 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | 23 | 26 | 86 | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 24 | 93 | 93 | 493 | 285 | 71 | 294 | 341 | 71 | 71 | 285 | 24 | 103 | 111 | 93 | 93 | 93 | 71 | 357 | 467 | 24 |
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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