Strandhill Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s take a look at what’s coming our way for the next couple of weeks.

First off, the water temperature is running pretty much where you’d expect for this time of year, nothing wild there. The swell energy is starting off light but there’s some punchy stuff lurking further out, though it’s going to take a while before things actually clean up for us.

The real standout session is Sunday morning, the 13th of September. We’ve got a clean 4ft groundswell rolling in from the WNW with a period of 11 seconds, and combined energy is moderate at 279. The wind is light and off from the SSE, so expect good surf conditions at Strandhill. That’s the pick of the whole forecast window right there.

Sunday afternoon drops off a bit – the swell backs down to 3ft and the wind picks up to 9 mph from the S, making things cross-off. It’s still surfable, but it’s ordinary compared to the morning.

Monday the 14th is a write-off. We’ve got tiny, weak swell down at 1ft and onshore breezes kicking up. Poor conditions all day. Tuesday the 15th is no better – strong cross-onshore winds and rain showers make for messy, choppy surf.

Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th stay poor. The swell actually jumps up – Thursday afternoon sees a big 10ft WNW swell with a period of 16 seconds and very strong combined energy of 4026 – but with a fresh cross-onshore wind and lumpy conditions, it’s a mess. That kind of long-period groundswell needs a point or reef to handle it, not a beach setup getting hammered by the wind.

Friday the 18th is a step towards something better. The swell is still solid – 8ft from the W in the morning, period of 13 seconds, combined energy at 2288 – and the wind is cross-off from the SSW, so the surf is clean. It’s still a marginal call with tide issues, but it’s the first real hope after the mid-week beating.

Saturday the 19th is blown out again. Strong cross-onshore winds and rain, swell hitting 12ft. That’s too big for most and the wind ruins it.

Now, Sunday the 20th – this is a tricky one. The swell is pumping at 10ft from the WNW with a 14-second period, combined energy very strong at 3380, and the wind is cross-off from the S. The forecast even says wind and tide are favorable. But here’s the thing – at over 8ft, that’s expert territory, especially at a beach setup like Strandhill. Beginners should stay well clear.

Monday the 21st through Wednesday the 23rd stays rough. Strong onshore winds, messy conditions, and swell staying well over 7ft. Not the kind of week you want to paddle out.

Thursday the 24th has another huge pulse – 12ft to 13ft WNW swell with periods up to 14 seconds and combined energy over 5000. Wind and tide are favorable again, but it’s just too big. Experts only, and even then it’s going to be a beast.

After that, the surf slowly winds down through the end of the month. Friday the 25th and Saturday the 26th are still blown out with onshore winds. By Sunday the 27th we’re down to 7ft with moderate wind, but it’s still onshore, so conditions are marginal.

The final highlight in this stretch is Monday morning, the 28th of September. The swell drops right off to just 2ft from the W, period of 9 seconds, combined energy a weak 92. But the wind goes glassy – a 3 mph SSW breeze, clean as a mirror. You’ll be scratching for a wave, but if you want a peaceful paddle with no crowds, that’s your morning.

So to sum it up: Sunday the 13th morning is the only true standout. After that, it’s a long stretch of messy or oversized conditions until the very end. We get a couple of clean but marginal windows, and a glassy but tiny finish.

Rusty.

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