Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, SSW swell with 53 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 0.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 10AM. 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 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here.
Let’s cut to the chase. The next 16 days at Red Strand (Dirk Bay) are a total dud. There’s nothing on the cards worth chasing, so you’re looking at a long stretch of flat or poor conditions. The water is 66°F right now, which is much warmer than usual for the time of year.
Starting Thursday the 6th of August, we’ve got tiny 0.7ft from the SSW and a solid 25 km/h cross-wind. The energy is weak, and it’s messy. That pattern barely changes all week. Friday morning lightens up, but it’s still cross-on and the swell is nothing. Saturday morning we see a bump to 2ft with an onshore wind, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s just lumpy and poor. The energy is still weak.
We get a moment of glass on Monday the 10th, but the swell is gone at 0.7ft. It’s flat. The rest of the week is a mix of cross-on breezes and tiny swell, with the biggest day being Saturday the 15th with 1ft and a 30 km/h cross-wind. That’s not surfable.
Into the second week, it stays quiet. The 16th brings clean cross-off wind with a very long 19 second period swell, but it’s only 0.3ft. That’s a tease. The 17th we get a clean offshore with 2ft from the SW, but it’s short period and weak. The 19th and 20th look clean with cross-off winds and a 16 second period, but the swell heights are stuck at 0.7ft to 1ft, with energy still low. That’s the best we get, but it’s not enough.
There’s nothing here worth paddling out for. The swell is too small and poorly directed. For a sheltered reef, it’s a total bust. Save your energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 4 | WSW 10 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 15 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 42 | 34 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 38 | 37 | 33 | 47 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | off | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:37PM2.79m | 12:10PM2.77m | 00:49AM2.71m | 1:28PM2.75m | 2:09AM2.74m | 2:46PM2.87m | 3:22AM2.90m | 3:53PM3.09m | 4:23AM3.11m | 4:50PM3.32m | 5:16AM3.33m | 5:40PM3.52m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:25PM0.78m | 5:58AM0.85m | 6:39PM0.86m | 7:17AM0.88m | 8:03PM0.83m | 8:39AM0.80m | 9:20PM0.69m | 9:49AM0.62m | 10:25PM0.48m | 10:49AM0.40m | 11:19PM0.28m | 11:40AM0.19m | 00:07AM0.12m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — |
 | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:14 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:08 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | SW 11 | S 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 6 | SW 6 | SW 6 | S 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | SW 9 | SW 8 | SSW 8 |
| kJ | 15 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 38 | 37 | 33 | 47 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 5 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SW 8 | S 11 | S 13 | SW 12 | SSE 4 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SE 4 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 6 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | S 12 | W 10 |
| kJ | 5 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | — | S 5 | W 9 | W 9 | SW 11 | SSW 13 | — | SSW 12 | SE 4 | SE 5 | S 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 13 | SW 11 | — | — | — | S 12 |
| kJ | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 17 | — | 14 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | — | — | — | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | WSW 2 | SW 5 | SSW 2 | S 3 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | S 4 | — |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 34 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 13 | 14 | 9 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 122 | 111 | 111 | 103 | 93 | 113 | 280 | 111 | 113 | 122 | 93 | 93 | 122 | 111 | 111 | 113 | 71 | 71 | 111 | 71 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cork | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest