
Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s period, SSW swell with 147 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 1.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. Looking at the whole 16-day window for Red Strand (Dirk Bay), it’s a tough stretch. The forecast is a long run of poor surf conditions, with no real standout sessions to get excited about.
The first recommendation doesn’t pop up until the afternoon of Saturday, August 1st, but even then it’s a tiny 0.3ft swell from the southwest. The water is sitting at 65°, which is 4° warmer than usual, so it’s much warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice touch, but the swell is weak – the combined energy is only 8 – and the wind is a cross-on shore breeze, making it messy. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s not going to be pretty.
We roll through Sunday, August 2nd, with more of the same: tiny 0.3ft to 1ft swell, cross-on ESE winds, and choppy conditions. The energy is still pathetic, at 9 and 35. Monday, August 3rd, sees a bit of a bump, with a 2ft SSW swell and a combined energy of 108 (moderate), but the wind is cross-shore and the period is a short 8 seconds. It’s still poor. The trend continues all the way through the first week. There’s a moment on the 5th and 6th where the wind goes cross-offshore and it looks clean, but the swell is tiny – 2ft to 3ft on the 5th, dropping to 0.7ft on the 6th. The energy is weak, at 52 to 57, and then 25. It’s a tease.
The second week doesn’t offer much hope. The 9th of August has a glassy morning, but the swell is 0.3ft with a combined energy of 12. It’s flat. The biggest swell appears on the 11th of August, hitting 5ft from the SW with a 9-second period and a combined energy of 420 (strong wave energy). That sounds promising, but it’s a Tuesday afternoon with fresh cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions. It’s still rated as poor surf. The direction is SW, which is the optimum swell direction for this spot, but the wind kills it.
The rest of the run is a mix of small, weak, and messy swells. The 16th of August ends the window with 3ft W swell but a 3-second period, which is just wind chop. The energy is a low 19. There are no standouts. A few days in the middle of the second week have some clean winds, but the swell is too small to do anything with. The break is a sheltered reef, fairly consistent and beginner-friendly, and crowds are sometimes an issue, but none of that matters when there’s no rideable surf.
For this stretch, the best you can hope for is a longboard on a clean morning with tiny waves, but even that’s a stretch. The blank run is pretty typical for this area when the swell windows don’t line up. Keep your eyes on the charts, because forecasts can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Mon morning. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Mon morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the SE by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Wed morning, light winds from the WNW by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | WNW 6 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 7 | S 5 | S 6 | S 6 | SSW 6 | WSW 4 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 74 | 59 | 37 | 77 | 33 | 79 | 38 | 23 | 27 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 14 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:53PM3.29m | 8:09AM3.24m | 8:28PM3.26m | 8:46AM3.20m | 9:06PM3.19m | 9:26AM3.12m | 9:49PM3.08m | 10:11AM3.00m | 10:37PM2.94m | 11:05AM2.87m | 11:37PM2.79m | 12:10PM2.77m | 00:49AM2.71m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:09AM0.38m | 2:24PM0.37m | 2:44AM0.43m | 3:00PM0.44m | 3:20AM0.50m | 3:40PM0.53m | 4:02AM0.61m | 4:26PM0.66m | 4:53AM0.74m | 5:25PM0.78m | 5:58AM0.85m | 6:39PM0.86m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 9:23 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:21 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 8 | SW 8 | SW 5 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 8 | SW 8 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | S 15 | S 6 | SSW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 4 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 74 | 59 | 30 | 77 | 11 | 4 | 38 | 23 | 7 | 12 | 5 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 14 | 14 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | — | SW 8 | — | S 11 | S 16 | S 16 | SE 4 | S 15 | W 11 | SW 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 5 | W 10 | SW 12 | S 14 | SW 4 |
2 | — | 3 | — | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | WNW 6 | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | — | — | S 14 | — | S 18 | — | S 16 | S 16 | — | S 14 | — | W 9 |
3 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 4 | — | 6 | — | 5 | 5 | — | 4 | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 2 | SE 3 | ESE 4 | E 5 | ESE 4 | — | S 5 | S 6 | W 2 | W 3 | WSW 4 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | W 3 | WSW 5 | — | WSW 3 | — |
— | — | 1 | 7 | 7 | 44 | 37 | — | 33 | 79 | 1 | 11 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | — | 3 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 122 | 111 | 95 | 93 | 90 | 93 | 93 | 71 | 226 | 226 | 71 | 404 | 467 | 467 | 24 | 467 | 334 | 285 | 631 | 304 |
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.











