Surf Forecasts:
Red Strand (Dirk Bay) surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, SSW swell with 205 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 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) 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 0.6m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 31) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Red Strand (Dirk Bay) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for the Red Strand (Dirk Bay) area. Look, I’ve got to be honest with you, this forecast is a tough one to swallow. We’re looking at a 16-day window starting now, and for the vast majority of it, the surf just isn’t happening. Every single recommendation in the data comes back with "poor surf conditions," so there’s no standout day to get excited about. We’re staring down a long, blank run here.
The first solid block of the period is a write-off, and it stays that way through the start of September. Even into the second week, the pattern doesn’t improve. The combined wave energy readings are low, often in the double digits, and only occasionally tickle into the moderate three-digit range, like on Wednesday September 2nd morning when it hits 248 (moderate energy), but the wind is a messy cross-onshore making it choppy and lumpy. No good.
There’s a brief moment on Monday September 7th morning where the wind goes glassy, and the swell is 2 ft from the WSW, but the period is all over the place and the energy is still only moderate at 126. Plus, it’s still tagged as poor conditions. The water temperature is sitting at 64°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s small comfort.
The bottom line, mates, is that there’s nothing to recommend here. No real swell, messy wind, and the break is a sheltered reef setup that isn’t firing. If you’re desperate to get in the water, maybe bring a kite, because the beach setup might be more interesting for that than for paddle surfing. Otherwise, keep the board in the bag. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a hard pass.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 13°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SW on Tue morning, strong winds from the W by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | S 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | WSW 10 | SSW 7 | SW 6 | SSW 5 | SSW 17 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SW 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 94 | 82 | 53 | 136 | 108 | 59 | 34 | 18 | 30 | 19 | 30 | 59 | 198 | 205 | 101 | 89 | 82 | 82 | 42 | 41 | 41 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 6:51PM3.43m | 7:07AM3.43m | 7:25PM3.46m | 7:42AM3.44m | 8:01PM3.43m | 8:19AM3.39m | 8:40PM3.32m | 9:00AM3.27m | 9:23PM3.15m | 9:46AM3.09m | 10:13PM2.94m | 10:41AM2.89m | 11:15PM2.73m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:49PM0.21m | 1:06AM0.21m | 1:22PM0.18m | 1:39AM0.21m | 1:55PM0.21m | 2:13AM0.26m | 2:31PM0.29m | 2:50AM0.38m | 3:12PM0.44m | 3:32AM0.55m | 4:00PM0.62m | 4:26AM0.74m | 5:04PM0.81m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | 2 | — | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | S 8 | SSW 8 | S 9 | SSW 7 | SW 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | S 18 | SW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 7 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 94 | 82 | 53 | 6 | 108 | 59 | 18 | 18 | 6 | 12 | 30 | 25 | 50 | 48 | 101 | 82 | 82 | 16 | 42 | 41 | 41 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SW 9 | SW 8 | W 11 | S 8 | S 7 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | NW 10 | — | — | SSW 15 | — | — | SSW 16 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 5 |
| kJ | 2 | 79 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | 43 | — | — | 82 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SW 11 | S 10 | S 19 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | S 18 | — | — | W 10 | — | S 8 | W 10 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | W 3 | WSW 3 | SSW 7 | — | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | WSW 3 | SW 6 | SSW 5 | SW 5 | SSW 5 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | W 3 | SW 7 | SW 6 | W 3 | WSW 6 | WSW 3 | — |
| kJ | 5 | 8 | 1 | 136 | — | 7 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 19 | 20 | 59 | 198 | 205 | 5 | 89 | 71 | 2 | 28 | 10 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 404 | 125 | 93 | 111 | 430 | 569 | 103 | 103 | 113 | 113 | 255 | 111 | 111 | 409 | 71 | 492 | 911 | 504 | 779 | 467 | 93 |
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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