
Surf Forecasts:
Strandhill surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, W swell with 484 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Strandhill this week:
The surf forecast for Strandhill over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Strandhill in the next 16 days are 1.7m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Strandhill over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down Strandhill.
The first week is a real bummer. From Saturday, July 18th, through to Friday, July 24th, it’s all small, choppy, and messy. The swell is tiny, barely making it to 3ft, and the wind is mostly blowing sideways or onshore. The energy is in the weak range (30–46). Not worth your time.
We get a little bump on the afternoon of Friday, July 24th, with a 4ft west swell and an 8-second period, energy hitting 228. But the wind is still onshore, so it’s messy.
The real action starts on Saturday, July 25th. The swell is 6ft from the west, 9-second period, and the energy is a solid 484. The morning has a light rain and a cross-offshore wind from the SSW at 15 mph. That wind is clean, so the waves will have some shape. The water temp is 64°F, which is 5°F warmer than normal – very unusual, like a warm bathtub. This is the best window for a paddle, but it’s still not perfect. The swell is over 5ft, so it’s getting too big for beginners, and the period is average, so the sets will be lumpy. The afternoon gets a cross-shore wind, which adds chop.
Sunday, July 26th, and Monday, July 27th, are windswell days. The height stays around 5ft–6ft, but the wind is cross-onshore and strong, 15–22 mph. The energy is high (528–588), but the quality is poor. It’s lumpy, messy, and choppy. This is better for kites than paddle surfing.
We get a break Tuesday, July 28th, with onshore wind, still 5ft, but the wind is lighter at 15 mph. Still not great.
The standout is Wednesday, July 29th. The morning shows 7ft from the west with a 9-second period, and the wind is light from the southwest at 6 mph, which is a cross-shore breeze. The energy is strong at 627. That’s a powerful, clean swell. It’s over 5ft, so intermediates and above only, but the light wind keeps it looking good. The afternoon gets windier, but the morning is the pick.
Thursday, July 30th, is the biggest: 8ft from the WNW, 10-second period, and the energy is very strong at 1040. The wind is light from the NNE at 6 mph in the morning, cross-onshore, so it’s clean with small ripples. But that swell is over 8ft, so it’s expert-only territory.
After that, the swell fades. Friday, July 31st, has 6ft from the west, period 10 seconds, energy 618, but the wind is onshore. Saturday, August 1st, drops to 4ft, and Sunday, August 2nd, is back to 4ft. The energy fades to 165–206. Poor surf conditions return.
Crowds at Strandhill can be there on the good days, so expect company.
The call: the first week is a write-off. The best window is the morning of Wednesday, July 29th – 7ft west swell, light cross-shore wind, strong energy. Thursday the 30th is the biggest, but only for experts. The rest is windswell and chop.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 5 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 10 | W 8 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
13 | 43 | 36 | 16 | 23 | 21 | 35 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 109 | 228 | 384 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:43PM3.68m | 10:11AM2.91m | 10:28PM3.41m | 10:57AM2.76m | 11:14PM3.10m | 11:47AM2.63m | 00:05AM2.80m | 12:45PM2.53m | 1:06AM2.56m | 1:53PM2.49m | 2:19AM2.43m | 3:06PM2.54m | 3:33AM2.44m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:11PM0.27m | 4:00AM0.28m | 3:55PM0.47m | 4:45AM0.51m | 4:43PM0.71m | 5:32AM0.74m | 5:38PM0.96m | 6:24AM0.96m | 6:45PM1.16m | 7:27AM1.11m | 8:06PM1.26m | 8:38AM1.17m | 9:25PM1.23m | ||||||||
5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:54 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:51 | — | — | 9:49 | — | — | 9:47 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | W 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | W 9 | NW 6 | W 11 | W 11 | NW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 10 | — | — |
12 | 1 | 36 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 35 | 35 | 10 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 109 | — | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 12 | W 11 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — |
5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 21 | — | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 7 | W 13 | — | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | — | — | — |
— | — | 1 | 12 | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 7 | — | — | NW 7 | — | NW 6 | NW 3 | — | NNW 6 | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 3 | NW 6 | — | — | — | W 3 | W 8 | W 9 |
13 | 43 | — | — | 23 | — | 9 | 5 | — | 16 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 12 | — | — | — | 6 | 228 | 384 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 271 | 417 | 69 | 38 | 417 | 38 | 209 | 256 | 100 | 209 | 501 | 209 | 241 | 470 | 209 | 148 | 432 | 135 | 271 | 534 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Strandhill Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Strandhill provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Strandhill can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Strandhill 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 (Strandhill) 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 Strandhill 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 Sligo? If you are looking for accommodation near Strandhill, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Sligo, consider staying in Sligo which is 9 km (6 miles) away. Other places in and around Sligo where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Ballina which is 40 km (25 miles) away, Killybegs, Enniskillen and Claremorris.










