Strandhill Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and here’s how things are shaping up for Strandhill (County Sligo).

Right now, we’re looking at a pretty flat and messy start. There’s a small window of hope further down the line, but you’re going to need some patience. The first proper surfable day arrives on the morning of August 24th, so expect a solid gap of quiet, blown-out, or just tiny conditions before that.

The first highlight comes in on Monday, August 24th. Strandhill wakes up to a clean, lined-up WNW swell pushing through at a solid 4 ft. The period is a nice and juicy 11 seconds – that’s groundswell chatter, proper energy. The combined energy is sitting at a moderate 319 (moderate wave energy) and the wind is a light, clean cross-off from the SSE. This is the best of the bunch for the whole outlook – clean, with some push, and that offshore influence will keep the face smooth. Expect intermediate-friendly waves that could have some proper shape. The afternoon holds similar energy at 4 ft, and with the wind dropping to slight air, it could get glassy. Just be aware it can get a crowd here, especially when it’s good.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild – just your typical cool Atlantic summer water.

After that, Tuesday through Thursday brings smaller, more ordinary waves. August 25th to August 27th offers waist-high surf with either light offshore or glassy conditions in the mornings. The wave energy is low, so it’s more of a longboard or foiling kind of vibe. Nothing to get excited about, but a few clean little runners on the sandbanks if you’re desperate.

Then we hit the weekend of August 30th through September 3rd, and things get interesting but ugly. A big pulse of swell rolls in late on August 30th, pushing 8 ft to 8 ft with a 12-second period and 1665 energy – that’s strong to very strong. But the problem? It’s blowing onshore or straight on from the NW and NNW at 12–19 mph, making it a total mess. This is one for the experts only, and even then, it’ll be a wind-battered battle. For most of us, it’s a skip.

The good news is we get another small clean-up on September 1st. Tuesday afternoon sees a light SSE cross-off, some clean little 3 ft waves from the WNW (9-second period), and just 123 energy. It’s small but clean – a last gasp of half-decent surf before the window closes.

Beyond that, a couple of days on September 2nd and 3rd are either tiny or pinned with fresh, choppy winds. Nothing to write home about.

For the kite crew: if you want to get out, the big windy and sloppy days around August 30th and 31st (onshore NW winds) might just be your playground, but for a surfer, it’s a write-off.

So to sum it up: your best shot is Monday, August 24th. Get on it then. After that, it’s clean but small, or big but blown out. That’s Strandhill for you – you take the good with the bad.

Rusty.

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