
Surf Forecasts:
Strandhill surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, WNW swell with 768 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Strandhill this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Strandhill in the next 16 days are 2.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 26th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Strandhill over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the Sligo coast over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I’ve got to be straight with you – the next week or so is looking pretty grim. The swell is tiny, the wind is slapping it sideways, and it’s mostly cross-onshore junk. You’ll be looking at mushy, choppy waves around 1 foot to 2 feet for the first few days, and the energy is weak. Not worth paddling out for. That runs from Monday the 20th right through until Thursday the 24th of July. There’s a proper gap here with no surf to speak of.
Now, things finally get a bit more interesting around Friday the 24th of July. The swell starts to fill in proper, jumping up to 5 feet from the WNW with a moderate 9-second period. The combined energy is solid, so there’s some push behind it. But, and it’s a big but, the wind is a cross-onshore hack from the W at 12 to 15 mph, so the conditions are going to be choppy and messy. The surf is still marked as poor. Not the day to get excited.
The real tease comes on Saturday the 25th of July. The swell peaks at 7 feet on the morning from the WNW, with 9 seconds, and the energy is massive. That’s a serious amount of water moving. By the afternoon, it drops to 6 feet with a better 10-second period, energy still huge. The wind switches to a light onshore breeze from the WNW. Still, the surf quality is listed as marginal. For a surfer, if you’re experienced and can handle a big, powerful beach break, Saturday afternoon might be the best of a bad bunch. It’s going to be big and heavy, so this is expert-only territory. Beginners, stay well clear.
Sunday the 26th keeps the size at 7 feet from the WNW, but the wind is howling onshore from the NW at 12 to 15 mph. The surf is poor again. There’s a ton of energy but it’ll be a washing machine out there.
After that, the swell slowly backs off through the end of July and into August, dropping from 5 feet down to 3 feet. The winds are all over the place – some cross-on, some onshore. Never really clean. There’s a few days around the 2nd and 3rd of August with a lighter cross-off wind from the south, but the swell is tiny (3 feet) and the period is short (7 seconds). The energy is weak. The conditions look clean, but there’s nothing to ride.
So, the honest truth is there’s no standout session here. The only one that might be worth a look for the experienced crew is the afternoon of Saturday the 25th of July. Otherwise, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.
Stay patient, lads. The ocean will turn around eventually.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Thu morning, fresh winds from the W by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
35 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 60 | 352 | 281 | 374 | 655 | 603 | 696 | 752 | 712 | 452 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 4:11PM2.67m | 4:34AM2.53m | 5:02PM2.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:43AM1.12m | 10:27PM1.11m | 10:36AM0.99m | 11:15PM0.95m | |||||||
5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:51 | — | — | 9:49 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:45 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 6 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 12 | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | — | — | — | WNW 10 |
35 | 35 | 31 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 13 | — | — | — | — | 603 | — | — | — | 452 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 9 | — | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NW 3 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | NW 6 | WNW 3 | WNW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — |
12 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 19 | — | 6 | 1 | 60 | 352 | 281 | 374 | 655 | — | 696 | 752 | 712 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 254 | 157 | 254 | 239 | 514 | 209 | 209 | 125 | 209 | 102 | 506 | 8 | 1286 | 1232 | 1319 | 443 | 41 | 148 | 418 | 386 | 41 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










