Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, SSW swell with 528 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 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's have a look, folks. The outlook for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next couple of weeks is about as exciting as watching paint dry. We've got a long stretch of nothing to work with. A massive gap of poor conditions, tiny swells, and winds that are all over the place. For the first nine or ten days, don't even bother waxing up.
There is one small window, though, on Saturday, September 5th. The afternoon session is clean with a light breeze, and we finally get a bit of energy with a 3.6ft swell from the SSW. The period is a short 8 seconds, but the water energy bumps up to a moderate 222. You'll find some rideable, if ordinary, waves. That's your best shot in this whole 16-day stretch. It's not pretty, but it's something.
The rest of the time? There are a few bumps in the energy, like on the afternoon of the 30th of August when it jumps to a strong 420, but that comes with a stormy cross-onshore wind and choppy conditions. And on September 3rd, we see a 4.9ft SSW swell but again, the wind is messy and it turns into lumpy cross-chop. This sheltered reef isn't going to handle that well at all.
You're looking at a lot of weak energy readings in the low hundreds or even below, and winds that are mostly cross or onshore. The water temp is about a degree warmer than normal for this time of year, but that's the only thing that's mildly interesting. To be honest, on those days with the fresh cross-shore winds and lumpy chop, this spot looks way more fun for kite surfing than paddle surfing. If you're a surfer, you might want to find another hobby for a bit. It tends to stay poor for a while here, but forecasts can change.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 16°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the SSE by Fri night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Mon night, light winds from the WSW by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | S 8 | SW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 25 | 27 | 38 | 36 | 19 | 69 | 89 | 112 | 50 | 123 | 274 | 76 | 28 | 45 | 51 | 12 | 30 | 25 | 50 | 48 | 263 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:44PM3.19m | 6:00AM3.22m | 6:17PM3.34m | 6:33AM3.35m | 6:51PM3.43m | 7:07AM3.43m | 7:25PM3.46m | 7:42AM3.44m | 8:01PM3.43m | 8:19AM3.39m | 8:40PM3.32m | 9:00AM3.27m | 9:23PM3.15m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:41AM0.44m | 00:01AM0.38m | 12:15PM0.30m | 00:34AM0.27m | 12:49PM0.21m | 1:06AM0.21m | 1:22PM0.18m | 1:39AM0.21m | 1:55PM0.21m | 2:13AM0.26m | 2:31PM0.29m | 2:50AM0.38m | 3:12PM0.44m | 3:32AM0.55m | |||||||
 | |  |  | | |  | | | |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — |
 | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — |
mm | 2 | 3 | 7 | — | 1 | 17 | — | — | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | ESE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 11 | S 8 | SW 9 | SSW 8 | W 11 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | SSW 7 | W 10 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SW 5 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 25 | 53 | 38 | 36 | 19 | 2 | 89 | 112 | 50 | 2 | 145 | 76 | 25 | 2 | 29 | 8 | 4 | 25 | 50 | 48 | 31 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | S 6 | ESE 6 | S 12 | S 11 | — | SW 8 | S 8 | WSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 6 | WSW 8 | S 10 | W 8 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | W 7 | S 10 | W 7 | — |
| kJ | 7 | 27 | 12 | 3 | 3 | — | 77 | 28 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 9 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | S 11 | S 11 | — | WSW 10 | — | S 19 | S 18 | W 8 | S 10 | S 11 | SW 10 | WNW 8 | — |
| kJ | 14 | 14 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 37 | — | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 4 | — | W 4 | SW 3 | S 5 | WNW 4 | W 4 | W 3 | SSW 6 | SSW 7 | W 4 | WNW 2 | SW 7 | SW 6 | W 2 | W 3 | WSW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 65 | 9 | — | 8 | 11 | 69 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 123 | 274 | 13 | 1 | 45 | 51 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 263 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 5 | 5 | 24 | 24 | 111 | 491 | 125 | 250 | 93 | 111 | 281 | 71 | 103 | 304 | 285 | 467 | 936 | 93 | 93 | 404 | 647 |
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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