Red Strand (Dirk Bay) Surf Break

Lat Long: 51.55° N 8.94° W

Red Strand (Dirk Bay) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 am 15 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Red Strand (Dirk Bay) sea temperature is
19.1° C
2.6° 

Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 8s period, W swell with 116 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 1.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (IST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 4AM (Mon 17th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G'day, Rusty here. Well, I'll be honest with you, the next couple of weeks at Red Strand (Dirk Bay) look pretty grim. There's a real lack of decent swell energy coming in, and we're stuck with tiny waves for the most part. You'll see a big gap with no real surf to speak of right through until around the 18th of August. Things are really down.

The water temperature is sitting at 66°, which is a huge 5° warmer than normal for this time of year. That's a real standout – the water is much warmer than you'd expect.

The first faint glimmer of hope shows up on the morning of Tuesday, the 18th of August. We get a tiny bump in swell height to 3 ft from the WSW with a period of just 7 seconds. The combined swell energy is a weak 105, so it's not much to write home about. The wind is a gentle cross-shore breeze, which keeps things clean but with a slight chop. It's still flagged as poor surf conditions, so don't get your hopes up.

Honestly, nothing across the entire 16-day window comes close to being a standout. The swell is tiny, periods are often short, and the wind is messy. For a while around the 20th of August, the wind does swing to a cross-off from the NNW, which cleans things up, but the swell is still only 1.0 ft to 1 ft – not enough to do anything with.

If you're dying for a surf, the best option might be the morning of Monday, the 25th of August. We see 3 ft from the SSE with a very short period of 6 seconds, and a light cross-off breeze from the NNW making it clean. The combined energy is only 88, so it's weak. It's still classed as poor surf, but it's about as good as it gets.

Overall, this is a blank run. It's a quiet stretch for the area, and we'll have to wait for a change in the forecast to see any real surf.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the W by Mon afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds.

Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
WSW
7
0.2
WSW
7
0.1
S
12
0.1
S
12
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
18
0.2
SSW
18
0.2
SSW
18
0.2
SSW
16
0.2
SSW
17
0.2
SSW
17
0.3
SSW
17
0.2
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
15
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
0.2
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
5
5
3
3
7
6
30
31
26
28
28
59
26
50
47
42
41
39
25
50
50
Wind (km/h)
20
N
20
WSW
10
N
20
WSW
25
WSW
20
WNW
10
W
30
W
25
WSW
20
W
30
W
20
W
30
WNW
35
W
30
WNW
35
WNW
30
WNW
15
WNW
15
N
10
W
20
N
Wind State
off
cross-on
off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
off
High Tide
7:29AM3.58m
7:51PM3.60m
8:10AM3.49m
8:32PM3.44m
8:50AM3.33m
9:12PM3.22m
9:31AM3.12m
9:53PM2.96m
10:14AM2.88m
10:38PM2.71m
11:03AM2.64m
11:32PM2.48m
12:05PM2.46m
00:44AM2.34m
Low Tide
1:49PM0.04m
2:11AM0.14m
2:29PM0.15m
2:49AM0.29m
3:08PM0.34m
3:27AM0.49m
3:48PM0.56m
4:07AM0.71m
4:32PM0.80m
4:53AM0.92m
5:26PM1.01m
5:52AM1.10m
6:36PM1.16m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:20
6:22
6:24
6:26
6:28
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:59
8:57
8:54
8:52
8:51
8:49
8:46
 mm
4
2
Temp °C
18
18
16
17
18
18
18
19
18
19
19
15
16
16
14
17
17
15
18
18
15
Feels °C
17
14
14
14
17
16
14
14
16
15
14
13
9
9
9
11
11
12
17
16
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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