
Surf Forecasts:
Strandhill surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, WNW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 14s period, WNW swell with 6,105 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 18 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period with WNW 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 Friday (Sep 18) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Strandhill in the next 16 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Strandhill over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at this forecast for Strandhill for a while. It’s a mixed bag, to be honest. The next couple of weeks bring some sizeable swell, but the wind is going to cause grief more often than not. Let’s break it down.
The combined swell energy is all over the shop, from a weak 60 to a monster 7302, so we’re in for a wild ride energy-wise. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
Right now, we’re starting the period on Monday the 14th with a tiny 2ft to 3ft west swell, but it’s a write-off—cross-off wind and “poor surf conditions” say it all. Nothing to paddle for.
Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th see the swell building to 6ft to 6ft, but it’s cross-on, choppy, and messy. Thursday the 17th is a full-on mess: 8ft to 12ft of west-northwest swell with a strong cross-onshore wind gusting to 25 mph. The combined wave energy jumps to 4438, but the setup is ugly for paddle surfing—more of a kite surfers’ day.
Now, Friday the 18th is our first real flicker of hope. The swell drops back to 8ft from the WNW, period 13 seconds, combined energy at 2440, and the morning brings a gentle cross-off breeze. It’s labeled “marginal” but it’s clean, and for an intermediate, it’s worth a look. That’s your best early call.
Saturday the 19th and Monday the 21st are back to poor, with cross-on winds and choppy conditions. Not worth the walk.
Then we hit Sunday the 20th—and this is the standout. The morning shows a 10ft WNW swell with a 14-second period, a light offshore breeze, and glassy conditions. The combined wave energy is 3429. It’s big. For experts only. The report says the swell is too big for the break, but if you’re a confident charger with the right board, the Sunday afternoon has the same 8ft swell, offshore wind, and “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That’s the pick.
Tuesday the 22nd is a monster: a 16ft west swell with a 13-second period, glassy conditions, and combined energy at 7302. Again, too big for this spot—strictly for the brave or the kite crew.
Wednesday the 23rd brings a welcome drop. Morning has a 4ft WNW swell, light offshore, clean, with 456 combined energy. Good for a fun, relaxed session.
Thursday the 24th is another serious day for the experienced: a 6ft to 8ft WNW swell, long 16-second period, clean and offshore. That combo of size, groundswell, and clean wind is a beauty—just watch those sets.
Friday the 25th keeps it clean with a 6ft west swell, offshore breeze, and 942 energy. Very good, but the afternoon fades.
After that, the surf starts to taper off. Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th drop back to tiny 2ft to 2ft, with a fresh offshore wind making it clean but weak. Then Sunday arvo, a 13ft west swell rolls in with cross-shore wind—too big and messy again.
The final few days (Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th) are small, 2ft to 3ft, nothing to get excited about.
So, summed up: the best on offer is Sunday the 20th for the experienced crew, and Thursday the 24th for that long-period, clean, offshore session. Everything else is either too small, too windy, or too big. The gap from now is mostly poor until Friday the 18th, then again from the 26th onwards it fizzles out.
Stay wet, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Thu morning, light winds from the SSW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 12 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 13 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 12 | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
51 | 188 | 216 | 541 | 397 | 1230 | 659 | 377 | 487 | 1490 | 4438 | 4966 | 2440 | 1220 | 778 | 520 | 761 | 2513 | 3429 | 2844 | 1511 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:20AM3.36m | 8:35PM3.47m | 8:53AM3.24m | 9:09PM3.18m | 9:26AM3.07m | 9:44PM2.87m | 10:03AM2.85m | 10:24PM2.56m | 10:49AM2.62m | 11:18PM2.29m | 12:00PM2.43m | 00:50AM2.12m | 1:47PM2.38m | 2:42AM2.15m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:15PM0.19m | 2:37AM0.27m | 2:50PM0.40m | 3:08AM0.53m | 3:27PM0.66m | 3:40AM0.81m | 4:07PM0.95m | 4:17AM1.09m | 5:00PM1.24m | 5:11AM1.33m | 6:33PM1.44m | 6:54AM1.46m | 8:43PM1.40m | ||||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | |
— | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:38 | — | |
mm | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 17 |
Feels °C | 14 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | NW 11 | NW 11 | — | WNW 10 | W 10 | — | — | — | — | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | W 11 | — | — | — | WNW 14 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 |
51 | 188 | 216 | 5 | 5 | — | 659 | 377 | — | — | — | — | 2440 | 1220 | 778 | — | — | — | 3429 | 2844 | 1511 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 13 | NW 13 | NW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 3 | S 3 | W 5 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 12 | — | — | W 9 | W 10 | WNW 13 | WNW 14 | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 12 | — | — | — |
3 | 8 | 59 | 541 | 397 | 1230 | — | — | 487 | 1490 | 4438 | 4966 | — | — | — | 520 | 761 | 2513 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 8 | 8 | 41 | 521 | 712 | 429 | 243 | 41 | 432 | 897 | 712 | 391 | 8 | 8 | 41 | 243 | 243 | 239 | 8 | 0 | 148 |
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.










