Month: January 2026

East Coast

Saturday on the east coast is looking like it will have small waves in the 1ft range with winds blowing from the north initially swinging more offshore later but the waves won’t get much above 1ft. Sunday will be less than 1ft with light breezes. Monday has waves but they are blown onshore and messy wind swell waves so not worth it.

South Coast

Tramore looks really nice on Saturday with 3-4ft conditions with winds blowing cross shore but light enough with Sunday seeing the winds drop even further to less than 10mph with the waves looking more like 2ft before Monday turns to rubbish and goes messy cross onshore winds ruining any waves.

South West

Garretstown looks maxed out Saturday with the waves forecast to be 10ft plus with light breezes before Sunday turns really nice with 6-8ft conditions from the good 13 second period with light offshore winds for the most part. Monday as with all other places goes messy and should be given a miss as Sunday is the day for improvers. Inch Beach in Kerry is maxed out for Saturday and Sunday before Monday turns a little smaller but by a little smaller I mean 6-8ft with a strong 14 second period but the winds may cause hassle with strong offshore conditions forecast making it clean but nearly too strong clean.

West Coast

Lahinch is looking like it could be plenty chunky with the forecast showing waves up to 8ft and more with the 15 second period with light offshore winds in the morning. I suspect that the waves will be breaking way out the back so planning to get all the way out will probably be a struggle. There will be a lot of water moving around. Sunday looks a little bit more manageable with winds looking southerly at the moment with 6ft+ conditions with the winds turning offshore. Monday looks to continue with the larger conditions due to the 14 second period and 6ft swell which should bring but the real issue on Monday is the strong offshore winds that may make it a struggle to get into the waves although there should still be plenty of power in the waves. Tides are high at 4 Saturday, near 5 Sunday and 5.30 Monday but with the size and period forecast I would be leaving at least 2 and a half hours before high to get out of the water as the tides will rush in at they are small lows and big highs.

North West

Strandhill is looking nice and light winds for Saturday with light offshore winds all day. Conditions will be chunky with 5-6ft sets and bigger on the 15 second swell. Sunday looks similar but drops back to 13 seconds which should still bring 4-6ft conditions with light breezes. Monday sees the winds change and turn moderate to strong offshore with 5-6ft waves forecast. In the Bundoran area it looks as if Tullan could be marginal as the 15 second period will see a lot of water moving around making the first peak a little shifty so a better bet would be Rossnowlagh where it should be 3-4ft with good peaks coming through. Sunday drops back a little and should see good Rossnowlagh or a larger Tullan with lighter onshore winds before Monday sees the winds pick up to 20 mph offshore gusting to 40mph with 4-6ft waves on Tullan.

North Coast

The winds look to be the issue around Portrush with the easterly winds showing strong enough to make the wind swell the primary source of swell but the conditions do show a secondary swell of 2ft @ 16 seconds which should bring 2ft waves to West Strand with moderate offshore winds. This secondary swell continues into Sunday with lighter offshore winds for West Strand but Monday could be a little too small for waves on West Strand with winds swinging from all angles but lightest in the morning.

Surf Safe and enjoy,

Col,

Surf Improvers

East Coast

So it looks like there are going to be 3-4ft conditions on the east coast tomorrow but the good news ends there as the winds are howling from the south east which means that there will be no shelter making for messy onshore conditions with waves that will probably be a struggle to hold position. I would recommend that this is really only for the experienced surfers as the possibility of large cross shore currents is strong and there will be a lot of water moving around. Sunday sees the swell and winds drop back to give 1-2ft weak onshore conditions.

South Coast

Conditions in Tramore are looking messy as those east and south easterly winds are going to leave no shelter with the beach very messy cross shore which should be avoided on Saturday. Sunday sees the winds continue from the east which means that it’s not a great weekend for waves on the south coast with the winds really messing things up.

South West

Things in Garretstown are looking a little bit more favourably but Saturday is showing 8-10ft conditions with a large 15 second period which means a lot of water in the waves so really only for the more experienced as this will require big duck dives to get through the conditions with moderate to strong cross offshore conditions. Sunday looks like a little smaller with 6-8ft conditions with much lighter winds making for much cleaner conditions. Periods are still up at 14 seconds so good strong duck dives and also good gaps between sets. Sunday is definitely the better day of the two. Down in Inch Beach in Kerry it is looking maxed out on both days with waves showing in the 15ft range with offshore conditions so only for those with serious experience and jetskis.

West Coast

Saturday is looking like it will be maxed out on Saturday but it is dropping back to look better for Sunday so I would skip Saturday and save the arms for Sunday when the conditions are looking more like 6-8ft with a good 13-14 second period with good gaps between sets but it will be chunky with that large period. Tides are high at 9.30 on Sunday which means that you really won’t be able to get in the water until 11.30-12 when the water starts to drop off the rocks and the ramps to allow you to safely enter the water.

North West

With the large periods on Saturday of up to 17 seconds, I am going to recommend that Strandhill be given a miss with the likes of Streedagh or Rossnowlagh being a better shout with the offshore winds and the beaches ability to reduce the size of the incoming swell. Mullaghmore Beach may even have a wave with the larger periods that are coming through on Saturday as the swell bends into the beach. Sunday looks more manageable but still punchy with the 13 second period and waves in the 4-5ft region with offshore conditions. In the Bundoran area Tullan will probably have too much water moving around making Rossnowlagh a better bet for Saturday. Sunday looks like a good shout for both Tullan and Rossnowlagh with 4-6ft conditions on Tullan and 2-3ft possibly bigger on Rossnowlagh with moderate to strong offshore winds on Sunday all day.

North Coast

Portrush is looking to be hit with those easterly winds that are making the west coast offshore and the east coast a mess. The winds are so strong that they are influencing the primary swell to show the wind swell whereas the actual swell is 3ft 15-16 seconds coming off the larger swells on the west coast. This means 2ft conditions with bigger on sets at the likes of East Strand but the winds will make it very hard to get into waves and harder to get down the line. Sunday looks much the same with strong easterly winds and 2ft conditions.

Surf Safe and Enjoy,

Col,

Surf Improvers

East Coast

Today Friday has waves on the East Coast in the afternoon with about 2ft conditions coming into Wicklow but this looks to fade going into Saturday with only 1-2ft at best and this is driven by an onshore wind so expect really low weak onshore waves. Sunday returns to small to flat with moderate southerly winds.

South Coast

Winds on the south coast look much calmer for Saturday with easterly winds but the winds have been onshore on Friday so the waves coming in will still have a good bit of a bump on them with 2-3ft conditions forecast with the size better the earlier you get there. Sunday then drops back to 1-2ft with southerly winds making for onshore conditions.

South West

The winds on Saturday for Garretstown are showing more northerly which should have the conditions offshore with light winds overnight meaning 4-5ft conditions first thing with offshore conditions. These will drop in size over the course of the day to 3ft by late afternoon with Sunday then turning onshore with 1-2ft blown over waves. Inch Beach in Kerry is showing northerly winds which are cross shore but as the conditions on the north of the peninsula would be onshore, this may be the best option with the waves forecast to be well overhead first thing but there is a touch of north in this swell so I would expect waves in the 4-6ft range with bigger on sets due to the 13 second period in the morning dropping to 4ft by the afternoon. The best spot will be as close to the cliff to avoid those cold northerly winds. Sunday sees the winds turn southerly with 2-3ft cross shore conditions.

West Coast

Lahinch is looking on the forecast like the conditions could be in the excellent range with winds barely breezes and offshore all day long on Saturday with waves in the 4-6ft range as there is a lot of west in it which could make for slightly smaller conditions but it should still have some punch when it bends in. Sunday sees a touch more north in the swell with smaller swell and period forecast which may struggle to bend in with 2-3ft and possibly smaller with only a 10 second period with winds cross offshore from the south east. Tides are high in the late afternoon both days so out of the water by 2.30 Saturday and closer to 3 Sunday.

North West

Strandhill is looking like it will be nice and offshore on Saturday with waves in the 4-6ft range with the larger 13 second period and perfect easterly winds. Sunday sees the winds turn a little more south easterly which is still offshore but more cross and gusting up to 20mph with only 2ft conditions. In the Bundoran area it looks like similar conditions with Tullan probably being a little larger with a lot of water moving around but Rossnowlagh could have some nice 3ft conditions and bigger on sets with light offshore breezes on Saturday with Sunday reverting to be Tullan Strand only with cross offshore conditions for Tullan gusting at times.

North Coast

The winds on the north coast look to be moderate to messy cross shore from the east south easterly direction which is cross offshore for the likes of Whiterocks but has a little too much east for it to be clean. The winds are gusting enough to be showing up as the primary swell whereas the real swell is a 2ft north easterly bring 2ft conditions and possibly bigger on the 13 second period. Sunday sees the swell drop further and winds turn more southerly but with only 1ft waves.

Surf Safe and enjoy,

Col,

Surf Improvers

East Coast

Things are looking small to flat on Saturday in Wicklow but Sunday looks like it could bring some good east coast conditions later in the day. It starts off with 3-4ft conditions that look to hang around for most of the day and building just before dark. Winds are moderate to strong from the south which is the driving force behind the waves coming up the channel.

South Coast

Tramore is looking ok on Saturday morning up until around lunch time when the winds are nice and light and not too bad for direction but once lunchtime ends the winds swing onshore and start to pick up in strength and in gusts leaving a small window to get clean waves. Sunday then turns to messy onshore so make the most of Saturday morning when it should be 2ft and clean.

South West

Winds in Garretstown are looking cross onshore for the day on Saturday but the winds are looking light enough in the morning before the winds and gusts pick up to make things messy. Waves should be in the 3-4ft range on Saturday before Sunday goes large and onshore meaning it should be given a miss. Inch Beach in Kerry is looking maxed out for both Saturday and Sunday so no decent surf for improvers.

West Coast

While there is a touch of north in the swell coming into Lahinch there is a good period on the waves which means that the size of swell should still bring some 3-4ft conditions to the beach with the afternoon looking like direct west and winds turning to have a touch of south east in it which will make for cross offshore so should still have some cleanish conditions for the beach. Sunday has the winds picking up to nearly 40mph on the gusts which could make for trying conditions as the swell has the right direction but the winds are a little too strong for clean conditions. Tides are high at 10am Saturday and closer to 11 Sunday but the highs are quite small so an hour to 90 minutes out of the water should suffice but allow it to drop off the rocks before entering.

North West

While it looks like the conditions are really good for Strandhill the winds are light onshore over night which may make for slightly bumpy conditions on Saturday with the light winds to remain with 5-6ft conditions and bigger on sets with the 12 second period. With the size forecast, I would nearly recommend to check Streedagh which could have some 2-3ft conditions and the winds will favour there in the morning with the size and then dropping size in the afternoon but the winds looking better with the south east direction. Sunday sees the winds picking up to get moderate to strong cross shore for Streedagh but ok for north facing spots such as Enniscrone but it will be 2ft at best there. In the Bundoran area Saturday looks to be chunky on Tullan with 5ft plus conditions but better conditions for improvers should be available at Rossnowlagh with lightest winds in the morning before it picks up to go moderate cross shore for the afternoon. Sunday then sees the winds go too strong with gusty conditions for all spots.

North Coast

Saturday is definitely the better day for the north coast with some really nice 3-4ft conditions for East Strand or Whiterocks with winds showing moderate offshore but with the land drag this should be less than forecast but always in the right direction. Sunday is a write off as the swell drops right back and the winds go too strong offshore to allow for any waves to get into any of the spots so make the most of Saturday, especially the morning.

Surf Safe and Enjoy,

Col,

Surf Improvers

East Coast

Conditions on the East Coast are looking small to flat for the weekend with very little swell coming up the coast with light to moderate offshore winds.

South Coast

Tramore is looking small for most of the day but there will be a small wave in the evening around the 1-2ft mark with moderate offshore winds for those that are keen on Saturday. Sunday sees the winds drop back a bit but the swell will still only produce 1-2ft conditions for most of the day until the afternoon when it will drop further.

South West

Conditions around Garretstown could get up to 2-3ft at times with a better 11 second period with offshore winds ranging from 10mph offshore gusting up to over 20mph at times with the best chance for better waves in the afternoon. Sunday starts off with similar but the swell is dropping all day so expect the best conditions first thing and then poorer later. Inch Beach in Kerry is showing that the best swell is the southerly one coming up but this will take a bit to bend into the bay meaning that it will mostly be 1-2ft at best with cross shore northerly cold winds which look to be a consistent 20mph making for biting cold cross shore winds.

West Coast

The predominant swell around Lahinch is coming from a small northerly which is only 8 seconds meaning that it is mostly wind swell being driven by the northerly winds which means that it will likely only be a 1ft wave at best with northerly cross shore winds with Sunday showing similar conditions that look smaller and with lighter winds but still cross shore in direction. Tides are high at 4.30 Saturday and just after 5 Sunday so out of the water by 2.30 Saturday and 3 Sunday.

North West

Strandhill is showing a rather large northerly swell but this is still driven by the winds meaning that it will be a messy northerly onshore 2-3ft with lumpy white water waves Saturday and Sunday dropping back to a 1-2ft with even more onshore with a north westerly direction on the wind. In the Bundoran area it is looking like a messy Tullan on both Saturday and Sunday with nowhere really offering shelter from a north wind so Rossnowlagh will be the best option for those keen for a cross shore bumpy 2-3ft waves Saturday and 1ft Sunday.

North Coast

Portrush looks blown out Saturday with big and onshore conditions with winds gusting in excess of 30mph on both Saturday and Sunday with the swell on Sunday showing more 2-3ft blown over making for messy conditions both days.

Surf safe and enjoy,

Col,

Surf Improvers