Surf Forecasts:
Strandhill surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, WSW swell with 360 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Strandhill in the next 16 days are 1.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (IST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
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 shaping up for the Sligo coast. To be straight with you, we’ve got a pretty bleak run ahead for most of the next 16 days. The surf window doesn't really open up for a proper session until the very start of September, so don’t be holding your breath.
The first week is a write-off. From Tuesday the 25th right through to the end of August, it’s mostly small, weak, and disorganised. We do get a brief moment on Tuesday morning with a 3ft west swell, period around 10 seconds and clean offshore ESE winds, but the combined energy is a measly 118 – just a weak pulse. The water temp is sitting at 62°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. But honestly, that Tuesday morning window is the only glimmer, and it’s barely worth paddling out for. After that, we hit a solid gap of days where the surf is poor or non-existent, with swell dropping to 1ft and periods under 8 seconds. It’s a flat spell, plain and simple.
Things start to look a little more interesting as we move into the second week. The first real standout comes on Thursday the 3rd of September. Strandhill (Ireland) is looking at a 8ft swell from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds, pumping out a combined energy of 1132 – that’s strong wave energy. The morning sees light rain and a cross-off wind from the SSW at 16 mph, which should keep the face reasonably clean. That size is getting into the intermediate-to-expert zone, so it’s not one for the groms. The caveat here is that with a longer period like 10 seconds, it can be a bit straight at a beach setup like Strandhill, but the energy is there.
The next real highlight is the following week. On Sunday the 6th of September, we’ve got another solid push. Morning brings a 6ft west swell, a very long period of 13 seconds, and a combined energy of 1191 – strong again. The wind is offshore from the SSE at 19 mph, which should groom it nicely. That period is a proper groundswell, meaning better shaped waves, more power, and longer lulls between sets, which can make the paddle out easier. It’s a promising one, but being over a week away, treat it as a hopeful date on the calendar rather than a guarantee. The afternoon sees a similar 6ft swell but with cross-off winds, so the morning is definitely the call.
Bottom line: don’t bother with this week. The surf is small and messy. Circle Thursday the 3rd and Sunday the 6th of September. The 3rd is the biggest, but the 6th morning has the better quality with that long-period groundswell and clean offshore wind. That’s the one to get excited about, but keep your expectations tempered until we get closer.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue afternoon, min 14°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, strong winds from the WNW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 6 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
118 | 56 | 21 | 18 | 10 | 67 | 60 | 40 | 22 | 14 | 35 | 18 | 10 | 26 | 66 | 17 | 24 | 21 | 49 | 62 | 145 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | off | off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:23PM3.05m | 5:41AM2.78m | 5:57PM3.28m | 6:13AM2.95m | 6:28PM3.47m | 6:45AM3.08m | 6:58PM3.60m | 7:16AM3.19m | 7:29PM3.67m | 7:48AM3.25m | 8:00PM3.66m | 8:21AM3.25m | 8:34PM3.56m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:00AM0.84m | 11:38PM0.72m | 11:35AM0.61m | 00:10AM0.50m | 12:07PM0.42m | 00:40AM0.31m | 12:38PM0.28m | 1:10AM0.17m | 1:08PM0.19m | 1:39AM0.09m | 1:40PM0.17m | 2:10AM0.09m | 2:13PM0.21m | 2:42AM0.17m | |||||||
6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:36 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 11 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | — | — | 8 |
Temp °C | 18 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | — | NW 6 | NW 6 | W 10 | W 9 | W 5 | NW 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 |
118 | 56 | 21 | 18 | 10 | 67 | 60 | 40 | 22 | 14 | — | 18 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 24 | 21 | 49 | 62 | 145 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | W 11 | — | — | — | — | N 10 | — | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | NW 7 | W 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | — |
— | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 21 | 15 | 2 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 8 | W 12 | W 11 | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 3 | 9 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 7 | — | — | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | — | — | W 5 | W 6 | SSW 4 |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 35 | — | — | 26 | 66 | — | — | — | 27 | 56 | 20 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 33 | 99 | 67 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 227 | 247 | 67 | 252 | 273 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 443 | 443 | 534 | 105 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Sligo | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Ireland | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











