Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 16s period, SSW swell with 25 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 0.2m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I’m gonna be straight with you – Red Strand (Dirk Bay) is flat. Like, genuinely flat. This is a sheltered reef setup, so it needs a decent push from the southwest to get going, and we just aren’t seeing it. The whole 16-day run is a bust. There’s no surf to speak of, and every single session is marked as poor surf conditions. That’s a long stretch of nothing – from Tuesday 21st July all the way through to Wednesday 5th August. Not a single recommendation.
The combined swell energy is laughable. Most of the time it’s below 30 (weak energy), with a few days just touching 43 (still weak). The swell heights are tiny – 0.3 ft to 0.7 ft most days, with the occasional 2 ft showing up on Saturday 25th and Thursday 30th July, but that’s short-period windswill (4-5 seconds), not real groundswell. It’s more of a lake chop than surf.
The wind is all over the place too. There’s a brief moment on Friday 24th July morning where it goes glassy, and Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd mornings have clean offshore or cross-off breezes, but there’s no swell to ride. It’s like having a perfect runway with no plane.
Water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing wild.
Honestly, if you’re looking to paddle out, you’re out of luck. This stretch is more of a kite-surfing setup if the wind gets up, especially on Saturday 25th July with that 22 mph cross-shore, or Thursday 30th July with 25 mph. But for a surfboard? Forget it.
It’s a blank run, and for this area, that’s not unheard of. Don’t stress – forecasts can change, but right now, leave the board at home.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Fri afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the W by Sat morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | WSW 4 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | S 13 | S 16 | S 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 5 | 25 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 21 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:00AM2.85m | 11:28PM2.75m | 11:55AM2.67m | 00:26AM2.57m | 12:59PM2.55m | 1:33AM2.48m | 2:08PM2.52m | 2:41AM2.48m | 3:12PM2.58m | 3:40AM2.57m | 4:06PM2.70m | 4:30AM2.71m | 4:52PM2.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:00AM0.71m | 5:25PM0.77m | 5:51AM0.88m | 6:22PM0.94m | 6:50AM1.01m | 7:26PM1.04m | 7:55AM1.06m | 8:33PM1.05m | 9:00AM1.03m | 9:34PM0.98m | 9:57AM0.93m | 10:26PM0.86m | 10:45AM0.79m | 11:10PM0.73m | |||||||
 | |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:36 | — | — | 9:35 | — | — | 9:34 | — | — | 9:31 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | E 3 | SSW 16 | — | E 4 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | E 4 | E 4 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SE 5 | SSW 12 | SSE 6 | SW 5 | SW 7 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | S 16 | S 15 |
| kJ | 5 | 1 | 25 | — | 1 | 21 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SSW 16 | E 4 | S 16 | S 15 | E 4 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SSW 13 | E 4 | — | SSW 13 | SE 5 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 16 | S 12 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 |
| kJ | 2 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 17 | 1 | — | 16 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SE 6 | S 11 | S 11 | S 8 | — | W 8 | E 6 | W 8 | S 6 | SE 6 | — | — | S 18 | SE 6 | W 10 | S 12 | — | S 11 | — | W 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | ENE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 3 | WSW 4 | W 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | W 3 | W 3 |
| kJ | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 93 | 899 | 112 | 112 | 420 | 118 | 5 | 280 | 304 | 122 | 867 | 113 | 433 | 825 | 892 | 337 | 467 | 334 | 103 | 103 | 103 |
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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