Month: March 2026

East Coast

Saturday is looking very flat on the east coast with very little swell but moderate winds from the south. Sunday looks to have a little more wind swell coming up the channel but this is weak 5 second wind swell coming up the channel but this will not create waves above 1ft in Wicklow.

South Coast

Tramore will struggle to get above 1ft with the wind swell that is forecast for Saturday with moderate offshore winds all day. Sunday starts small and but quickly grows to 3ft with moderate to strong onshore winds making it messy for surfing and probably not worth the paddle. Save the dry wetsuit for another day.

South West

Garretstown on Saturday starts with a nice 2-3ft wave but the only problem is the wind direction which is cross shore to Garretstown with winds peaking around the 20mph so bumpy conditions but with the 14 second period, it could have a little bit of punch behind it. On Sunday the winds have turned direct onshore making for messy 2-3ft blown over conditions. Inch Beach in Kerry is a write off on both days with big unwieldy swells and the winds are direct onshore making for messy conditions and should probably be avoided.

West Coast

Lahinch is seeing another north westerly swell again this weekend and from what we saw last weekend this weekend could be smaller again. Winds are also cross onshore Saturday and direct onshore Sunday with Saturday coming in at 15-25mph strength and Sunday showing gust of up to 40mph. Saturday could have 2-3ft conditions from the north swell with Sunday showing a swell direction that is coming directly up into the bay making for large 6ft blown over conditions with the winds blowing the waves over making for messy conditions. There is also due to be a competition on this weekend for the Juniors but this will probably run on Saturday in front of Vaughan’s restaurant as Sunday will be too messy. Tides are also against you this weekend with high on Saturday at 1.30pm but not too big a high but it still leaves 2 hours either side out of the water. Sunday’s high skips forward to nearly 4pm with the clocks going forward making most of the day out of bounds on both Saturday and Sunday.

North West

With north west winds forecast for Saturday there are no spots that will have shelter from the winds along the Sligo coastline and on up into Bundoran. This means big and messy conditions for Saturday and this continues into Sunday but the winds swing to be south westerly Sunday but the winds are gusting to nearly 40mph making for messy conditions everywhere and with the swell forecast for 13ft @ 12 seconds there are very few spots that can handle that wind or swell. Aughris may have a tiny area of shelter but the wind strength will still make this messy. In the Bundoran area, Streedagh could have a wave on Sunday but the winds are strong cross shore leaving it very difficult to surf and control a board. Rossnowlagh will have onshore white water for anyone keen for a paddle but the waves will be poor.

North Coast

Portrush will be maxed out at all spots on Saturday with a 15 second period and over 12ft swell making for dangerous surfing conditions with onshore conditions so give it a miss. Sunday sees the swell drop back a bit but the winds are still strong so I’d recommend giving it a miss.

Surf Safe and enjoy,

Col,

Surf Improvers

East Coast

It is looking very flat for both Saturday and Sunday on the east coast with big periods but no swell and good weather.

South Coast

Tramore is looking like it will struggle to get over 1ft on Saturday with very light breezes and Sunday looks like it could just get over the 1ft mark with light offshore breezes but not much outside of waves for kids or lessons.

South West

Garretstown is also looking to start out small with just over 1ft for most of Saturday until the afternoon when it could get over 2ft with light breezes. Sunday looks to continue with more of the same as it may get just over 2ft with light offshore breezes. On the west coast to Inch Beach and the swell that is showing up the most is a north westerly swell which will be much smaller than forecast as the current forecast of 8-10ft does not take account of the shelter the bay has so expect more like 4ft conditions with light to moderate cross shore conditions from the south making for slightly bumpy waves. Sunday sees the winds swing to blow from the north which will have a little more shelter at the north end of the beach with 3-4ft waves on offer.

West Coast

Lahinch is also looking like the predominant swell is going to be that north westerly which is forecast to bring 6-10ft conditions to Lahinch but this should be more in the range of 3-5ft but this is a big periods swell so expect a lot of volume in the waves. The winds on Saturday look to be light breezes from the south with a small bit of onshore in the afternoon. Sunday looks to be showing onshore winds now that it wasn’t showing earlier in the week but these are differing depending on the source. My wind apps show it to be cross shore from the north west while Surf apps showing light to moderate onshores but the waves should be in the 3ft range depending on the sets with bigger sets on the bigger periods. With bigger periods comes big gaps in the sets meaning that it may appear small and calm which will then be interrupted by larger sets coming through so keep your awareness about you. Tides are good from 8.30am Saturday right through to 4.30pm and on Sunday from 9am until just after 5pm but I see from an update from Ben’s Surf Clinic that the sand has been washed off the beach leaving large areas of stones on the beach which need care when entering and exiting the water with his suggestion that the northern end of the beach could be safest. It should also be noted that the Kenny’s Surf Open from the West Coast Surf Club is being held this weekend which will rule out the waves in front of Vaughan’s so be aware of the likelihood of the competition and give a wide berth.

North West

Strandhill looks like it could max out for improvers this weekend with the swell coming right into the beach making for big an unwieldy waves for most. I would be looking to find spots that will kill off some of the swell and leave nice surfable waves. With the period available spots like Aughris, Mullaghmore Beach or Rossnowlagh will probably be the safest spots to surf on Saturday with Streedagh a possibility on Sunday. Rossnowlagh should have 4-6ft conditions with light winds Saturday which should be as good as it gets. Winds are light breezes on Saturday with Sunday showing more of a north westerly onshore for the most part making for bumpy onshore conditions for a lot of the north west.

North Coast

Portrush on Saturday could be chunky with overhead conditions coming through with some sizeable waves with a good volume of water. Saturday looks to have 6-8ft conditions coming through with light offshore breezes with Sunday showing some stronger winds that have more north west in them making for onshore conditions for all spots on the north coast with waves in the 4-6ft range.

Surf Safe and Enjoy,

Col,

Surf Improvers

*Report written Friday 13th so forecast may change before Tuesday

East Coast

Saturday and Sunday are looking small to flat in Wicklow with a small bump on Monday later on in the afternoon starting to build to 1-2ft with moderate to strong southerly winds before Tuesday picks up to bring a half decent 2-4ft driven by moderate to strong southerly winds blowing swell up the channel. As the winds are strong southerly, care should be exercised to monitor your position in the water as there will be a lot of water moving around.

South Coast

Tramore starts off on Saturday with some cross shore moderately clean waves first thing as the winds are quite light to start with 2ft conditions. This swell is dropping throughout the day so best to get on it first thing when the swell is at its best. The winds pick up on Sunday and remain gusty and bumpy cross shore. Monday goes onshore and only builds in strength going into Tuesday so Monday and Tuesday are messy onshore making for less than ideal conditions.

South West

Conditions in Garretstown are showing some nice light winds for Saturday morning but these are onshore but light enough to still allow some 3-4ft conditions. Sunday sees the winds pick up to nearly 30mph on the gusts making for messy onshore conditions with the wind angle only getting worse on Monday and Tuesday. Inch Beach in Kerry is maxed out all the way through from today to nearly Friday of next week.

West Coast

Unfortunately Lahinch is looking onshore from Saturday all the way through to Thursday of next week leaving suboptimal conditions for improvers with overhead conditions Saturday, bigger again Sunday up to nearly double overhead continuing into Monday and Tuesday being bigger again. Tides are high at 2pm Saturday 3pm Sunday, closer to 4 Monday and after 4 Tuesday but with the conditions not being great, it would really only be for those keen to get in. Leave 2 hours either side for safe access and exit.

North West

Strandhill starts with light onshore winds on Saturday morning but this window is short lived with the onshores building from Sunday right through to Wednesday making for messy conditions for both the Sligo area and Bundoran areas with big and messy conditions. Aughris could have some shelter on the left side of the beach but with the strength of the winds forecast, this could be a small possibility but if you are in the area, it could be worth checking. The Bundoran area will be onshore for Saturday and Sunday with only white water messy conditions for the likes of Rossnowlagh or cross shore conditions for the likes of Streedagh but it’s not going to be great for any of the locations.

North Coast

Portrush looks like it could have some really nice conditions on Saturday with the best conditions likely with 5-7ft conditions with a god 12-13 second period and cross offshore conditions for the Arcadia end of East Strand. It will be onshore for West Strand and probably too much west in the winds for Whiterocks. Sunday goes fully west making for messy conditions for all spots. Monday looks to max out all of the spots so I would recommend giving it a miss but Tuesday then returns to give nice conditions with 3-4ft sets on East Strand with moderate to strong offshore conditions.

Surf Safe and Enjoy,

Col,

Surf Improvers

East Coast

Both Saturday and Sunday are looking to small for any waves to make it into Wicklow with only moderate southerly winds but not enough to bring swell.

South Coast

It is looking small to flat in Tramore for Saturday with barely a 1ft wave coming through with light to moderate onshore winds. Sunday looks to have only slightly improved on the swell side with 1-2ft but this is then ruined by moderate onshore winds making things small and bumpy, good for lessons and kids but not much else.

South West

It is the winds that may mess with Garretstown over the weekend with some ok swell coming through with 3-4ft conditions on Saturday with a good 14 second period meaning that there could be bigger sets coming through with bigger waits between the sets to get out the back. The winds are questionable though with 12-20mph onshore conditions but this is mostly gusting so it could have periods of ok surf. Sunday sees the onshores continue with similar winds but period drops back a little meaning more likely 3ft conditions but that onshore could make it feel smaller. Inch Beach in Kerry looks to be maxed out on both days so give it a miss.

West Coast

Lahinch is looking like it is going to be fairly big on Saturday with the forecast showing up to 8-10ft with the winds blowing cross shore making for large bumpy waves that will be a struggle to get anywhere near out back so it may be just best to settle for the reforms on the inside and not bother going out past your depth. Sunday sees the swell drop a little but not by too much with still 6-8ft conditions but the winds have a small touch more east in them which is cross offshore but a little gusty. Tides are high in the morning and evening so out of the water until 9.30am and then back out around 6.30pm Saturday with Sunday allowing surf between 10am and sunset.

North West

In the Strandhill area the waves are looking around the 6-10ft range with moderate cross offshore conditions gusting up to 30mph at times with some of the spots being able to reduce that down a little such as Enniscrone which could offer 6ft conditions with those winds blowing more direct offshore. Streedagh could have a 2-3ft wave with that good period meaning probably flat spells interspersed with sets and cross offshore winds. Sunday is still chunky with 6-9ft conditions but again, go search out the spots that will kill some of the swell. Might be a little too small on Aughris Sunday but worth checking around. In the Bundoran area, it is really a Rossnowlagh weekend with the winds not great on Saturday as it is moderate to gusty cross shore but Sunday has a little more East in the direction which could make for more cross offshore with 4-5ft waves at Rossy. Not clean but not unsurfable.

North Coast

Portrush looks really nice for Saturday with a good swell bringing 5-7ft conditions on that bigger period so expect large gaps between sets but then chunky waves when they come through with direct offshore winds that should be less than forecast with the land drag. Sunday sees it drop back a little to 3-5ft conditions with again offshore winds so not a bad weekend for the Port.

Surf Safe and Enjoy,

Col,

Surf Improvers