Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period, SW swell with 61 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got the outlook for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) for you. Let’s be straight up: if you’re looking for a proper surf, you’re gonna have to be patient. This is a sheltered reef break, and it’s a beginner-friendly spot, but for the next 16 days the swell just isn’t showing up. The water temp is sitting at 66° – that’s much warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least a dip won’t be a shock to the system.
We start with a long gap of nothing worth paddling out for. The combined swell energy is weak all the way through, barely cracking 40 or 50 (like 40 to 68), and the wave heights are tiny – from 0.3 ft up to only 3 ft at the very end. The best wind comes through on the mornings of the 15th, 16th, 19th, 20th, and 21st where we get offshore or glassy conditions, but the swell is just too small to make anything of it. The swell that does show is mostly from the SW or SSW, which is the optimum direction for this spot, but the periods are all over the place – short 4-second windswell, some longer 15-19 second groundswells, but without any height, those long-period lines will just roll through without breaking properly.
There is no standout day here. The largest swell shows up on the morning of the 27th of August, with 3 ft from the WSW, but the period is a short 4 seconds and the wind is a fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy. That’s just not worth getting excited about.
Honestly, for the whole 16-day window, there’s nothing that qualifies as a good surf. The combined energy never climbs above 74 (figure 74 at best on the 22nd), so it’s weak energy all the way. The consistency is fairly consistent for this break, but it’s consistently small. If you’re a beginner, you might be able to get a float on some of those cleaner mornings, but there’s no real wave to ride.
This is one of those blank runs for the area. It’s not unusual for a sheltered spot like this to go quiet for a stretch. Keep an eye on the forecasts – these things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the W by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | SW 9 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | S 12 | S 20 | S 19 | S 19 | S 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SW 4 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 20 | 36 | 55 | 26 | 61 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 31 | 38 | 29 | 29 | 59 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:40PM3.52m | 6:03AM3.49m | 6:26PM3.65m | 6:47AM3.58m | 7:10PM3.67m | 7:29AM3.58m | 7:51PM3.60m | 8:10AM3.49m | 8:32PM3.44m | 8:50AM3.33m | 9:12PM3.22m | 9:31AM3.12m | 9:53PM2.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:40AM0.19m | 00:07AM0.12m | 12:26PM0.05m | 00:51AM0.04m | 1:09PM-0.00m | 1:32AM0.05m | 1:49PM0.04m | 2:11AM0.14m | 2:29PM0.15m | 2:49AM0.29m | 3:08PM0.34m | 3:27AM0.49m | 3:48PM0.56m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 17 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 8 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SE 5 | SW 11 | SW 10 | SE 4 | SW 6 | SW 7 | SW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | S 12 | NE 4 | SW 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | S 5 | SW 6 | SSW 17 |
| kJ | 20 | 1 | 55 | 26 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 30 | 31 | 26 | 7 | 11 | 59 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 11 | ESE 5 | ESE 5 | S 11 | WSW 9 | S 13 | S 11 | S 13 | S 14 | — | S 12 | W 7 | S 19 | S 18 | W 8 | S 11 | S 11 | SW 7 | S 5 | SW 6 |
| kJ | 14 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 12 | S 12 | S 11 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 13 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 20 | S 19 | S 13 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 20 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | W 9 |
| kJ | — | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 7 | 29 | 29 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 4 | SW 9 | — | — | SW 10 | — | — | — | N 3 | N 3 | — | NNE 3 | NNE 2 | — | — | — | SW 3 | SW 4 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NNW 2 |
| kJ | 6 | 36 | — | — | 61 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | 38 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 93 | 111 | 90 | 90 | 122 | 285 | 98 | 467 | 24 | 503 | 538 | 157 | 122 | 122 | 111 | 113 | 113 | 434 | 900 | 973 | 7 |
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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