Strandhill Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Gather round, folks. Rusty here. We're in for a long, flat spell at Strandhill before something proper shows up, but you're going to have to be patient. Real patient.

The next week and a half is grim. From Monday the 6th right through to Sunday the 19th, the surf is basically non-existent or just plain rubbish. There’s small, weak swell bumping in, but the wind is nearly always onshore, cross-onshore, or just messy. You'll see week-long gaps where there’s nothing worth paddling out for. The timings between Monday morning the 6th and Sunday the 19th are a write-off for any decent surf. The combined swell energy is low, often under 200, and often way down in the double digits by the middle of the period. The swell height barely scrapes 4 ft, and that’s with an 8-second period – basically wind chop. The water is much warmer than usual for this time of year at 61°, about 4° above the norm. That's notable, but it's not going to help the waves.

Now, hold on. The end of the long-range forecast is the real story. On Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st, we get a proper pulse. The wind goes glassy in the mornings – a huge positive – and we’re looking at a solid 7 ft to 7 ft swell from the west with a period of 10-11 seconds. The combined energy jumps into the high three figures (796 on Monday morning, 996 on Tuesday morning). That means moderate-strong energy. At over 8 ft in the afternoons, it's expert territory, but those glassy mornings with a 7 ft west swell? That’s the standout. Strandhill is exposed to the west, and with clean, glassy conditions, it'll be the best it’s been all outlook. The south winds are a bit cross-off shore, but the glassy spells will be magic. Crowds are listed as "sometimes" here, so you might have company for those morning sessions.

So, the rundown: nothing at all until Monday the 20th, then a very promising window. Don't hold your breath for the first two weeks, but mark that calendar for the 20th and 21st. I'll be there.

Rusty.

Read more