Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 13 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, W swell with 816 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) 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 0.6m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, gather around. Rusty here.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you. For the next two weeks, we are looking at a long, flat, and frustrating stretch. There's almost nothing to get excited about until the very end of the outlook period, and even then, it's going to be a battle.
Let's start with the one and only spot we've got intel on: Red Strand (Dirk Bay). It's a sheltered little reef break, beginner-friendly, but it doesn't like much wind or swell. The water temp is sitting at 61 °, which is pretty normal for this time of year, nothing crazy there.
For the entire first week and a half, from Saturday the 12th right through to Friday the 25th of September, it's a dead zone. The swell heights barely crack 4 ft and are often smaller, with periods under 8 seconds, meaning weak, short-period slop. The wind is almost always cross-onshore or cross, making it choppy and lumpy. The combined energy is way under 100 (106) on the best of those days, dropping to single digits later on. Honest to god, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing if the wind picks up.
Now, there is a glimmer. On Saturday the 27th of September, we get a pulse of energy. The combined swell energy jumps up to a moderate 257, with a 5 ft swell pushing in from the southeast. The period is short at 8 seconds, so it's not the best shape, but the key here is the wind. It goes glassy – light and cross-offshore from the WNW. This will clean it right up. It's the only session in the whole 16 days that gets any kind of score.
The Best on Offer:
Mark your calendar for the morning of Sunday, the 27th of September at Red Strand. Swell will be around 5 ft from the SE with those near-perfect, clean conditions. It's small, and the short period isn't ideal for a reef, but it will be the cleanest surf we see. It's not big, so it'll be fine for beginners, but don't go in expecting perfection. This is a "take what you can get" kind of day.
Other than that, I'm sorry. It's a blank. Looks like it's time to wax the longboard for flat-day paddles, because the ocean isn't giving us anything else.
Stay wet.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sun morning, fresh winds from the SW by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Tue night, strong winds from the SW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 5 | WSW 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | S 6 | SW 7 | SW 8 | WSW 10 | W 10 | S 13 | WSW 3 | SW 7 | W 3 | SW 6 | S 18 | SW 5 | W 8 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 28 | 227 | 13 | 61 | 30 | 23 | 31 | 42 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 77 | 816 | 34 | 35 | 31 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 7:03AM3.59m | 7:23PM3.55m | 7:40AM3.50m | 7:59PM3.40m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:20PM0.06m | 1:37AM0.15m | 1:55PM0.18m | 2:10AM0.30m | 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 | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — |
 | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 18 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 5 | WSW 8 | SW 12 | S 6 | SW 7 | SW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 7 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 7 | W 10 | SW 6 | S 18 | S 17 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 25 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 23 | 31 | 42 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 107 | 34 | 35 | 21 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | SSW 13 | WSW 8 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 5 | W 10 | S 11 | W 10 | S 11 | S 13 | W 10 | S 14 | W 10 | S 12 | S 14 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 9 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 37 | 22 | 8 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | — | S 13 | W 13 | — | W 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 18 | S 11 | S 13 | S 10 | S 14 | S 19 | S 13 | W 10 | W 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | W 17 |
| kJ | 7 | — | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 25 | 5 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 5 | WSW 9 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | WSW 7 | WNW 3 | W 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | WNW 3 | W 3 | WNW 3 | SW 3 | SW 5 | W 8 | W 3 | W 3 | SW 6 |
| kJ | — | 28 | 227 | 13 | 61 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 77 | 816 | 5 | 5 | 31 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 103 | 37 | 111 | 122 | 113 | 113 | 103 | 334 | 467 | 337 | 285 | 278 | 427 | 467 | 467 | 585 | 103 | 491 | 779 | 477 | 467 |
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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