Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 4PM (local time) - 0.5ft (0.2m), 19s period, SSW swell with 37 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 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 0.5ft (0.2m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's on offer for the next 16 days. I'm looking at my charts and, honestly, it's a bit of a slow one for the region. We've got a long stretch of nada before we see any real movement.
Right now, and for the next week, we're looking at a flat spell. The energy is just not there. The combined swell energy is in the dumps, barely registering a whisper. For days on end, we're talking about the odd 0.3 ft to 0.7 ft ripple, not enough to get a kick out of a log. Don't even bother waxing up from Sunday the 19th of July right through to Saturday the 25th. It's a clean, glassy pond at times, but there's no push.
The only whisper of something happening is on Sunday the 26th of July. We get a pulse of 3 ft swell from the SW, but it's super short period, barely 5 seconds. That's pure wind chop, no shape to it. The wind is a fresh cross-shore, making it a messy, lumpy mess. It's a skip, honestly.
The rest of the run out to the beginning of August is more of the same. A few glassy mornings, like the 28th and 30th of July, are beautiful to look at, but the swell is still barely a whisper. The wind picks up again in the afternoon, ruining any chance of a clean session. The period stays short, the energy is low, and the combined swell energy figures are all in the single digits or low double digits, which is very weak.
We've got a couple of glassy moments on the 28th and 30th of July, but again, with the swell so small, it's a coffee-on-the-beach morning, not a paddle-out.
Honestly, there's just no standout session here. The whole 16-day window is a write-off for a proper surf. The energy is too weak, the swell periods are too short, and when the wind is good, the swell is non-existent. The setup is more interesting for a kite than a paddle board for most of this run. Keep an eye on the long-range, but for now, I'd be fixing the dings. This is one of those blank runs that happens here.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Tue night, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 20 | SSW 19 | S 19 | S 18 | SSW 18 | S 18 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 7 | 37 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 24 | 5 | 25 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 21 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | off | cross-off | on | off | off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-on | off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 9:23AM3.25m | 9:48PM3.21m | 10:10AM3.06m | 10:36PM2.97m | 11:00AM2.85m | 11:28PM2.75m | 11:55AM2.67m | 00:26AM2.57m | 12:59PM2.55m | 1:33AM2.48m | 2:08PM2.52m | 2:41AM2.48m | 3:12PM2.58m | 3:40AM2.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:47PM0.37m | 4:12AM0.52m | 4:34PM0.57m | 5:00AM0.71m | 5:25PM0.77m | 5:51AM0.88m | 6:22PM0.94m | 6:50AM1.01m | 7:26PM1.04m | 7:55AM1.06m | 8:33PM1.05m | 9:00AM1.03m | 9:34PM0.98m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:43 | — | — | 9:40 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:36 | — | — | 9:35 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | E 5 | E 4 | S 18 | E 5 | E 5 | S 16 | E 4 | E 4 | S 16 | E 4 | E 4 | SSW 14 | E 4 | E 4 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | SSW 19 | S 19 | S 13 | SSW 18 | SE 5 | SE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SE 7 | S 15 | SSW 14 | E 5 | S 14 | SSW 13 | E 4 | — | SE 4 | — | S 6 | SE 5 |
| kJ | 1 | 37 | 7 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 25 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | S 12 | S 11 | W 8 | SE 6 | S 18 | S 11 | E 6 | S 11 | S 11 | SE 7 | S 6 | S 5 | S 7 | S 6 | SE 5 | SE 5 | — | S 18 | S 18 | W 11 |
| kJ | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 6 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 3 | — | ENE 5 | ENE 4 | — | — | ENE 4 | — | — | ENE 4 | — | — | NE 3 | — | — | ENE 3 | — | — | — | W 3 | WSW 3 |
| kJ | 3 | — | 7 | 5 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 5 | 93 | 98 | 280 | 93 | 102 | 297 | 113 | 102 | 825 | 118 | 439 | 806 | 305 | 102 | 900 | 122 | 434 | 831 | 103 |
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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