Strandhill Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a grim stretch ahead. There’s a long, flat gap staring us in the face. Realistically, there’s nothing worth paddling out for until the very end of the month. The first time we see any kind of energy that even gets a sniff of a score is around the morning of Monday the 27th of July, and even then, it’s only just creeping into the "maybe" zone.

Let’s break it down. For the first week and a half, it’s a total write-off. The swell is tiny, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the water at Strandhill (Sligo) is a lukewarm 63°F – which is actually much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the water temp’s got a silver lining, even if the waves don’t. The combined energy readings are dismal, sitting in the low double digits for days on end. We’re talking 0.7ft to 1ft of slop with short, weak periods. You’d be better off polishing your board than looking at the ocean.

Then, around the 24th of July, things try to get a bit more interesting. The swell does build to 3ft on Friday the 24th with a combined energy of 165 (moderate), but it’s coming from the west with a cross-onshore wind. The size gets a bit bigger over the weekend, hitting 6ft on Saturday morning and 6ft on Saturday afternoon, with energy jumping into the 400s to 500s – that’s a solid punch of energy. But the wind is howling from the west at 12 to 16 mph, smashing it up. The wave comments are all "poor surf conditions" and "choppy." It’s a lot of water moving, but it’s a mess. For a beach break like Strandhill, with that kind of onshore wind, you’d be fighting a losing battle. This is more kite-surfing territory than paddle-surfing condition.

The first real glimmer of hope – and I mean a glimmer – comes on the morning of Monday the 27th of July. The swell drops to 4ft, but the wind swings to a gentle cross-offshore from the SSW, and the report says "clean." The combined energy is still a healthy 280 (moderate), and the period is 10 seconds from the west-northwest. It’s not a standout, but for the first time in over a week, the conditions are lined up. It’s the best on offer in this whole grim window, but it’s still a marginal call. The crowds at Strandhill can be "sometimes" busy, so if you’re going to chance it, Monday morning is your only shot.

After that, the energy fades away again. The combined energy drops back to 131 on the 30th, then down to 32 by the 31st. There’s a moment on the 31st of July where the wind goes glassy, but the swell is only 1ft with a combined energy of 32 – not enough to ride. The second week of August is a total desert, with tiny waves and a lot of washing machine conditions. Even the offshore wind on the 4th and 5th of August can’t save it because the swell is 0.7ft to 2ft with barely any energy.

So, bottom line: if you’re desperate for a surf, the morning of Monday the 27th of July is your only real window. It’s not going to be epic, but it’s the cleanest wave we’ll see for a while. After that, put the board away and wait for the next system.

Rusty.

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