Strandhill Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, folks, Rusty here with the long-range look for our local stretch. Let's be honest from the off, the next week and a half is a bit of a mixed bag, with a whole lot of "meh" to wade through before we see any real promise.

The only game in town is Strandhill, a beach/sandbar setup that's fairly consistent but is going to take a beating from the wind for most of this forecast. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

We start off weak. Wednesday morning the 2nd has a tiny 2ft swell from the W, but at least the wind is a light offshore from the SE. The energy is low at just 57, but it's rideable and clean. That's about the only highlight for a while. That afternoon and all through Thursday the 3rd, the wind swings onshore or cross-shore, and the swell gets messy. By Friday the 4th, we've got a big, powerful 12ft W swell rolling in with a 12-second period and energy readings of 3704. That sounds epic, but it's absolutely howling from the W at 25 mph, making for a cross-onshore mess. That's only for experts, if anyone at all, and honestly, with that wind and a beach break, it looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Saturday the 5th offers a glimmer. The swell drops to a more manageable 6ft from the WNW in the morning, but it's still a bit lumpy. The real standout is Saturday afternoon. The wind eases to a gentle 9 mph from the S, going cross-offshore, cleaning up that 5ft WNW swell. The energy is moderate at 341 and conditions are described as clean. That's your best bet in the first week – a short window of good, clean surf for intermediates. Expect crowds to be a possibility as word gets out.

From Sunday the 6th right through to Tuesday the 15th of September, it's a frustrating run. There are waves, but the wind is either too strong, onshore, or the swell is just too small and weak. We get a bit of a pulse again on Monday the 13th with a 3ft W swell and a clean cross-offshore breeze from the SSE, but the energy is only 226 and it's rated as marginal. It’s better than nothing, but it's not a stand-out.

Then, finally, a long-range promise. On Wednesday the 16th of September, the wind backs right off. We've got a 3ft W swell with a lovely long 12-second period, and the wind is a light 6 mph from the SW, making it a light cross-shore. The combined energy sits at 266. It's still a marginal call, but with a long-period groundswell like that, Strandhill can have some nice lines. It’s a long way out, so don't book the time off just yet, but it's the only real light at the end of the tunnel.

So, to sum it up: grab Saturday afternoon the 5th for a clean session, and keep an eye on the 16th of September.

Rusty.

Read more