Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 2 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 3 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period, SW swell with 37 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 0.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 03) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Fri 3rd Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Hey crew, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next couple of weeks. I’m not going to sugarcoat it – this is a quiet, slow period for this spot.
For the whole 16 days, we’re looking at a big empty stretch with basically no real surf. The first week is all tiny, weak swell with cross-onshore or cross winds messing up the surface. The combined swell energy is mostly in the 20s and 30s, which is just barely a pulse. There’s a glassy morning on Tuesday, July 7th, but the swell is only 0.3ft from the south with a long 15-second period – groundswell, but no power behind it.
The second week is a little cleaner with some offshore breezes, especially Saturday July 11th and Sunday July 12th, but the swell is still stuck at 0.3ft. The one little highlight is Tuesday morning, July 14th. The combined energy climbs to 155 – that’s the only moderate reading – with a 1ft swell from the SSW and a long 18-second period. The wind is light cross-offshore and the water is clean. But at that size, you’re looking at knee-high waves at best. It’s the closest thing to a surfable moment in the whole run.
That Tuesday morning is the only thing worth mentioning. Swell direction from the SSW is a good match for this reef, and the conditions will be clean. With “sometimes” crowds, you might get it to yourself. But this is a beginner-only kind of day. For anyone else, it’s a long wait. The spot just isn’t firing right now.
Stay patient. Forecasts can always turn around, but for now, Red Strand is flat and sleepy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue night, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thu 2 | Friday 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | W 10 | S 16 | S 18 | SSW 15 | S 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 | W 8 | S 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 17 | S 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 37 | 27 | 21 | 10 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 5 | 21 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:41PM3.13m | 7:57AM3.05m | 8:17PM3.10m | 8:34AM3.02m | 8:55PM3.06m | 9:13AM2.97m | 9:35PM3.00m | 9:56AM2.91m | 10:19PM2.93m | 10:43AM2.85m | 11:10PM2.86m | 11:39AM2.80m | 00:10AM2.81m | 12:42PM2.79m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:59AM0.55m | 2:14PM0.52m | 2:36AM0.58m | 2:51PM0.57m | 3:14AM0.63m | 3:30PM0.63m | 3:55AM0.69m | 4:13PM0.70m | 4:40AM0.74m | 5:03PM0.76m | 5:33AM0.79m | 6:01PM0.80m | 6:35AM0.80m | ||||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 |
 | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:54 | — | — | 9:54 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:52 | 9:52 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | S 16 | W 10 | W 10 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 | W 8 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | — | SW 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 20 | 37 | 27 | 21 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 3 | — | 6 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 18 | S 18 | S 18 | S 16 | — | S 16 | S 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | W 8 | W 8 | W 10 | S 14 | W 8 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 5 | S 11 | S 17 | S 18 |
| kJ | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | — | 5 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 11 | S 13 | — | S 13 | — | — | S 12 | S 18 | — | — | W 10 | — | S 6 | S 15 | W 8 | W 10 | W 8 | S 13 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 4 | 2 | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | — | SW 2 | SW 3 | WSW 4 | SW 10 | WSW 3 | WSW 5 | WSW 9 | SW 3 | — | — | SW 2 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 13 | — | 1 | 5 | 7 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 95 | 24 | 113 | 362 | 285 | 122 | 122 | 103 | 111 | 111 | 113 | 111 | 113 | 24 | 93 | 98 | 93 | 93 | 113 | 58 | 93 |
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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