Strandhill Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking for our local stretch of coast at Strandhill.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week or so is pretty grim. We’re looking at a long, slow stretch of tiny, weak surf with poor conditions. The first real chance of anything decent doesn’t show up until Monday the 24th of August, and even then, it’s a modest pulse.

From today, Saturday the 22nd, through Sunday the 23rd, we’ve got practically nothing. We’re talking ankle-snappers in the 0.7ft to 1ft range with a short, weak period. The energy is pitiful – just 15 to 26 (combined energy of all swells directed here). The winds are mostly light and messy, so it’s not worth paddling out. You’re better off waiting.

Then we get a little window on Monday the 24th. The swell bumps up to a clean 3ft from the WNW, with a proper 11-second period. That’s a nice little groundswell. The wind is light offshore from the SE, so the surface will be clean. The combined energy of all swells directed here hits 254 – a moderate kick. For a beach/sandbar break, that long period can make it a bit straight, but at this size, it’s the best we’ve got. The water temp is sitting at 62°F, which is about a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s a little more comfortable than usual.

After Monday, it drops off again. Tuesday the 25th has some cleaner waves at 2ft to 3ft but the wind picks up, and the quality fades. From Wednesday the 26th through to the end of the month, we’re back to poor surf with onshore winds and choppy conditions. The swell hangs around 2ft to 5ft, but the wind is just never on our side. Late August and early September bring some stronger cross-onshore winds, making it lumpy and uninviting.

Now, there is a standout on the horizon. For the first weekend of September, specifically Saturday the 5th of September, the models are hinting at something promising. It’s still a week and a half away, so take it with a grain of salt, but it looks like a solid pulse. Saturday morning has a 6ft swell from the WNW with a 10-second period and a strong offshore wind from the SE. The combined energy of all swells directed here is a beefy 784, and the forecast is calling for “very good surf conditions.” That’s the one to circle on your calendar. The afternoon switches to a cross-shore wind and drops in quality, so the morning session is the window.

The rest of the second week is a mixed bag of windswell and onshore slop, with a few days of cleaner but smaller waves. The 4th of September looks like a blown-out mess with a 10ft cross-onshore swell that’s only for the hardcore, and it’s messy. Usually, after a dry spell like this, things turn around, and this long-range signal gives me hope.

So, to sum it up: The best bet is Monday the 24th of August for a clean, fun-size wave, and the absolute standout to aim for is Saturday morning the 5th of September. That’s the one with the most size, clean wind, and real energy.

Rusty.

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