Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s period, W swell with 135 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 1.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it, because we’ve got a long stretch of nearly nothing to talk about at Red Strand (Dirk Bay). This is a sheltered reef break that’s beginner-friendly, but honestly, for the next week and a half, we’re looking at flat, weak conditions. From the 13th right through until the early hours of the 22nd of August, the swell is tiny – barely 2 ft or less – and the energy is pathetic (combined swell energy values sit between 2 and 69, weak). The water’s way warmer than usual, coming in at 66°, which is more than 4° above what you’d expect for this time of year.
There are some mornings with clean, offshore breezes (Friday the 14th, Saturday the 15th, and again on the 21st), but they’re running on swell heights of just 0.7 ft to 1 ft – you’d be floating, not surfing. A few afternoons have a bit of cross-off or clean surface, but there’s no power in the water.
Then, on the morning of Saturday, the 22nd of August, it finally wakes up. We get a little pulse from the WSW at 5 ft with an 8-second period. The energy jumps to 399 (moderate energy) and it is glassy – wind is from the ENE at just 3 mph. That’s the standout session in the whole window. However, that period is short, so the waves won’t have much shape, and at 5 ft, it’s borderline for beginners but okay for intermediates. Expect some crowds, it’s "sometimes" busy there.
After that Saturday morning, it drops straight back into the doldrums – tiny swell, poor conditions, and by the 27th, we’re back to 3 ft with a short 6-second period, just not worth it.
So if you’re jonesing, the only window worth paddling out is that Saturday morning, 22nd August. It’s a short-lived moment. The rest is a long 9-day gap of flatness.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 14°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the W by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 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) | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | S 20 | S 12 | S 19 | S 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 26 | 48 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 59 | 26 | 50 | 47 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:26PM3.65m | 6:47AM3.58m | 7:10PM3.67m | 7:29AM3.58m | 7:51PM3.60m | 8:10AM3.49m | 8:32PM3.44m | 8:50AM3.33m | 9:12PM3.22m | 9:31AM3.12m | 9:53PM2.96m | 10:14AM2.88m | 10:38PM2.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:26PM0.05m | 00:51AM0.04m | 1:09PM-0.00m | 1:32AM0.05m | 1:49PM0.04m | 2:11AM0.14m | 2:29PM0.15m | 2:49AM0.29m | 3:08PM0.34m | 3:27AM0.49m | 3:48PM0.56m | 4:07AM0.71m | 4:32PM0.80m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:51 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SE 4 | W 9 | SW 6 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | S 19 | SW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SW 6 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 26 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 59 | 26 | 9 | 47 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | S 11 | S 11 | S 13 | S 11 | S 13 | S 14 | — | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 18 | SSW 18 | S 11 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | W 10 | SSW 16 | WSW 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 50 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 15 | — | S 11 | S 13 | S 10 | S 10 | — | S 20 | — | — | W 7 | S 11 | W 10 | S 20 | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 4 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 7 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 10 | SW 6 | — | — | N 3 | NNE 3 | — | NNE 3 | — | SW 2 | — | — | SW 3 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 4 | W 3 | W 3 | WNW 3 | NNW 4 |
| kJ | — | 48 | 11 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 10 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 111 | 122 | 285 | 98 | 467 | 285 | 98 | 504 | 113 | 111 | 111 | 303 | 352 | 122 | 297 | 639 | 278 | 103 | 467 | 467 | 651 |
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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