Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, SW swell with 521 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 1AM. 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's coming up for Red Strand (Dirk Bay).
Honestly, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and uninspiring for this sheltered reef set-up. We're staring down a long stretch of poor surf conditions with almost nothing worth paddling out for. The water's sitting at a touch warmer than normal for the time of year at 64°, which is nice, but it won't matter much with no waves.
The issue is there's just no energy coming in. The combined swell energy is weak right from the start, with values barely scratching double digits for most of the period. The swell that does show is small, often with short, weak periods, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore or just messy. You'll be looking at clean conditions on Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th, but that's with ankle-knocking 1ft to 1ft swell – a total skunk.
We jump to the second week, and it's more of the same. The big highlight, if you can call it that, is a pulse of moderate energy showing up on the Sunday the 13th, with the combined swell energy hitting 304. Swell height hits 5ft from the SSW with a short 6-second period, but the wind is gentle cross-onshore making it fairly choppy. That's your only real "window," and even then, it's pretty average. After that, it fades right back down.
The whole 16-day window is essentially a washout. There is no standout day, no clean swell with decent size and offshore winds. The reef is sheltered, and the swells we're seeing just aren't making the turn.
Don't get your hopes up, folks. This is a proper flat spell.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu night, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Tue night, strong winds from the SW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 4 | S 6 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 5 | SSE 5 | S 6 | WSW 11 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 16 | 30 | 32 | 94 | 89 | 189 | 82 | 82 | 220 | 71 | 41 | 41 | 37 | 35 | 37 | 66 | 134 | 64 | 142 | 224 | 521 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 8:40PM3.32m | 9:00AM3.27m | 9:23PM3.15m | 9:46AM3.09m | 10:13PM2.94m | 10:41AM2.89m | 11:15PM2.73m | 11:51AM2.73m | 00:34AM2.61m | 1:17PM2.69m | 2:02AM2.65m | 2:40PM2.83m | 3:16AM2.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:31PM0.29m | 2:50AM0.38m | 3:12PM0.44m | 3:32AM0.55m | 4:00PM0.62m | 4:26AM0.74m | 5:04PM0.81m | 5:38AM0.91m | 6:30PM0.93m | 7:11AM0.96m | 8:03PM0.89m | 8:38AM0.84m | 9:19PM0.71m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | |  | | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:08 | — |
mm | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 6 | SW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 6 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | — |
| kJ | 12 | 30 | 25 | 94 | 38 | 83 | 82 | 82 | 53 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 37 | 35 | 34 | 17 | 16 | 48 | 142 | 14 | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | W 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 9 | — | WSW 7 | SW 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WSW 11 | S 6 | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 50 | 47 | 43 | 2 | — | 30 | 14 | 41 | 41 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 64 | 20 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | — | — | SW 9 | — | S 18 | — | — | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | — | — | — | SE 6 | SSW 12 | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | — | — | 82 | 71 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 8 | 14 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | — | W 2 | — | — | SSE 3 | S 5 | SSE 5 | S 6 | WNW 3 | — | SW 11 | SW 7 |
| kJ | 16 | 12 | 32 | 43 | 89 | 189 | 63 | 59 | 220 | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | 37 | 66 | 134 | 3 | — | 224 | 521 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 113 | 111 | 93 | 297 | 113 | 285 | 285 | 304 | 434 | 71 | 285 | 7 | 5 | 103 | 93 | 93 | 420 | 103 | 71 | 113 | 303 |
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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