East Coast
It is looking like there are going to be some sizeable waves coming up the channel with Storm Bert coming through and this looks like it could bring 3-4ft conditions and possibly bigger on tides to the east coast but the main warning is from the winds which are very strong at nearly 60 mph on the gusts which is very strong for the east coast and makes it very hard to hold or control your board with only spots that have shelter in Wicklow hoping to hold out any hope for clean waves or safe surfable conditions. Extreme care should be exercised before going in the water as the winds will also mean that the currents will be very strong meaning that you could be swept up the beach quite quickly. Sunday looks to see the winds drop a good bit and could be a little safer for Wicklow with 2ft conditions with possibly bigger in the morning with a little more west in the winds which could make for slightly cleaner conditions but care should still be taken.
South Coast
Tramore will be maxed out with strong winds and waves for the beach making for unsurfable conditions.
South West
Garretstown will also see conditions max out the bay with strong onshore conditions for the weekend. Inch Beach in Kerry will also be unsurfable with the waves and conditions making it dangerous to enter the water.
West Coast
Lahinch Beach will also be another spot that will be maxed out with onshore conditions making it unsurfable with Storm Bert to blame.
North West
With the amount of south west in the swell, this will mean that the spots along the north west will not receive enough swell on Saturday for anything over 1-2ft with the winds moderate to strong offshore for the north facing spots. Tullan Strand will be small and blown out. Sunday sees a good swell return but the winds do not look to fade meaning that conditions will be blown around everywhere. Streedagh could have a small wave but the winds will make it no fun at the south end. On Sunday Rossnowlagh will be the only spot working as the winds will mean too much water moving around at Tullan and Rossnowlagh will be walls of white water.
North Coast
Around Portrush it looks to be the winds coming off the east coast are driving the waves away from Portrush making for very small to flat conditions with strong offshore winds. Sunday looks like it could have 1-2ft conditions with cross shore winds for the likes of West Strand and possibly only 1ft at East Strand with moderate to strong offshore.
A word of warning that storms can swing around and change direction which could make for conditions to change and bring more dangerous conditions to locations but also cause conditions to change while you are in the water so extreme care should be exercised and there will always be more waves so skipping a session to surf safely another day is not frowned upon. Utmost respect must be shown to the conditions on the day as you do not want to be calling out the RNLI or putting others at risk in rescuing you during dangerous conditions.
Surf Safe and Enjoy,
Col,
Surf Improvers