Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 25 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 12s period, SSW swell with 15 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 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1PM. 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 25th Jul) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll level with you – this stretch is a tough one. We’re looking at a 16-day window starting now, and the truth is there’s no surf worth paddling out for. The whole forecast period is one long gap with zero recommendations. Red Strand (Dirk Bay) is a sheltered reef setup, but it’s just not getting any love from the ocean. The swell is tiny, and the energy is barely there, so don’t bother checking the cams.
Water temp is sitting at 66°F on Saturday morning, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a 5°F anomaly, so it’s swimming weather, not surfing weather. The wind is mostly cross or cross-off, and while there are a few moments of clean conditions, like Sunday morning or Monday morning in early August, the swell is so small – 0.3ft to 2ft – that you’d be floating more than riding. The combined energy of all swells is pitiful, mostly under 20 (18 on Saturday morning, 19 on Wednesday afternoon, 55 on Monday the 3rd of August afternoon is the highest, but that’s still weak). Periods are all over the place, from 3 seconds to 16 seconds, but it doesn’t matter when the height is zero.
The only tiny glimmer is the morning of Monday the 4th of August, where we get a clean, fresh offshore wind from the north at 19 mph, with a 1ft, 7-second swell from the SSE. Even then, the combined energy is only 21 – it’s a flat spell. Honestly, this is one of those blank runs that’s normal for the area. It’s a shoreline that just doesn’t fire unless the direction lines up perfectly, and it’s not happening here. Forecasts can change, but for now, leave the board on the rack.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat morning, light winds from the SW by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 18 | W 3 | SW 6 | S 16 | S 16 | S 13 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 11 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | W 6 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 3:12PM2.58m | 3:40AM2.57m | 4:06PM2.70m | 4:30AM2.71m | 4:52PM2.84m | 5:12AM2.86m | 5:32PM2.99m | 5:50AM3.00m | 6:09PM3.12m | 6:25AM3.11m | 6:44PM3.22m | 7:00AM3.19m | 7:18PM3.28m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:34PM0.98m | 9:57AM0.93m | 10:26PM0.86m | 10:45AM0.79m | 11:10PM0.73m | 11:27AM0.65m | 11:50PM0.60m | 12:06PM0.52m | 00:27AM0.49m | 12:42PM0.42m | 1:02AM0.41m | 1:16PM0.36m | 1:36AM0.38m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:35 | — | — | 9:34 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:28 | — | — | 9:25 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 16 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 6 | S 16 | WSW 6 | S 13 | S 16 | S 15 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 3 | — | SE 4 | SE 5 | SSE 6 | S 5 | — | W 5 | S 12 | — |
| kJ | 15 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 18 | SE 7 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | W 8 | — | S 14 | S 13 | S 7 | S 6 | SW 5 | S 13 | — | S 12 | — | S 12 |
| kJ | — | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 3 | — | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 6 | — | S 16 | — | S 16 | — | W 9 | W 8 | S 14 | S 10 | S 10 | — | S 11 | S 13 | S 13 | W 9 | W 6 | — | W 11 | W 8 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | 5 | — | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 3 | WSW 3 | W 3 | WNW 3 | W 3 | — | WSW 3 | SW 3 | SW 4 | SSW 3 | SSW 3 | — | — | SW 2 | WSW 3 | — | WSW 3 | — | — | WSW 2 | — |
| kJ | 3 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | — | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 103 | 103 | 434 | 748 | 746 | 7 | 103 | 103 | 111 | 113 | 122 | 111 | 111 | 113 | 93 | 98 | 479 | 93 | 93 | 856 | 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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