Dipper › Co. Donegal

Downings

Excellent Quality 2025 Blue Flag faces NNW

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Surf score now
89
Grand · chest-high 1.2 m, period 12 s
Waves
1.2 m
12 s period from NW · model cell 3.6 km out
Sea
15.1°
Grand. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 246 km away.
Tide
3.5 m
Rising, nearly high. High at 10:05.
Wind
23 km/h
Moderate breeze, SSE, offshore, gusts 42
Daylight
07:35
Sunrise. Sunset 19:06. Air 13°C.

Best surf each day

Daylight hours
Today
08:00
Grand 89/100
chest-high 1.2 m, period 12 s, offshore wind · 1.2 m · 19 km/h
▼ 03:55 ▲ 10:05 ▼ 16:30 ▲ 22:40
Sat, 3 Oct
08:00
Decent 79/100
chest-high 1.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind · 1.1 m · 16 km/h
▼ 04:55 ▲ 11:05 ▼ 17:40 ▲ 23:50
Sun, 4 Oct
08:00
Decent 71/100
chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind · 1.0 m · 27 km/h
▼ 06:00 ▲ 12:30 ▼ 19:20
Mon, 5 Oct
10:00
Decent 71/100
chest-high 1.4 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind · 1.4 m · 25 km/h
▲ 01:25 ▼ 07:30 ▲ 14:05 ▼ 20:45
Tue, 6 Oct
10:00
Decent 77/100
chest-high 1.3 m, period 11 s, light onshore · 1.3 m · 12 km/h
▲ 03:00 ▼ 09:10 ▲ 15:30 ▼ 22:00
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Grim 0/100
no wave data here · 18 km/h
▲ 04:05 ▼ 10:10 ▲ 16:30 ▼ 22:45
Thu, 8 Oct
13:00
Grim 0/100
no wave data here · 13 km/h
▲ 05:00 ▼ 11:05 ▲ 17:15 ▼ 23:40

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Fri 09:0089 · Grandchest-high 1.2 m · period 12 s
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 08:00 · 89 GrandFri 09:00 · 89 GrandFri 10:00 · 89 GrandFri 11:00 · 89 GrandFri 12:00 · 84 GrandFri 13:00 · 84 GrandFri 14:00 · 84 GrandFri 15:00 · 89 GrandFri 16:00 · 71 DecentFri 17:00 · 71 DecentFri 18:00 · 71 DecentFri 19:00 · 79 DecentFri 20:00 · 71 Decent · nightFri 21:00 · 79 Decent · nightFri 22:00 · 71 Decent · nightFri 23:00 · 71 Decent · nightSat 00:00 · 71 Decent · nightSat 01:00 · 79 Decent · nightSat 02:00 · 79 Decent · nightSat 03:00 · 79 Decent · nightSat 04:00 · 79 Decent · nightSat 05:00 · 89 Grand · nightSat 06:00 · 79 Decent · nightSat 07:00 · 71 Decent · nightSat 08:00 · 79 DecentSat 09:00 · 79 DecentSat 10:00 · 79 DecentSat 11:00 · 71 DecentSat 12:00 · 71 DecentSat 13:00 · 71 DecentSat 14:00 · 71 DecentSat 15:00 · 54 FreshSat 16:00 · 64 DecentSat 17:00 · 64 DecentSat 18:00 · 64 DecentSat 19:00 · 64 DecentSat 20:00 · 64 Decent · nightSat 21:00 · 64 Decent · nightSat 22:00 · 89 Grand · nightSat 23:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 00:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 01:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 02:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 03:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 04:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 05:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 06:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 07:00 · 89 Grand · nightSun 08:00 · 71 DecentSun 09:00 · 71 DecentSun 10:00 · 71 DecentSun 11:00 · 71 DecentSun 12:00 · 71 DecentSun 13:00 · 71 DecentSun 14:00 · 71 DecentSun 15:00 · 71 DecentSun 16:00 · 71 DecentSun 17:00 · 71 DecentSun 18:00 · 71 DecentSun 19:00 · 71 DecentSun 20:00 · 71 Decent · nightSun 21:00 · 71 Decent · nightSun 22:00 · 71 Decent · nightSun 23:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 00:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 01:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 02:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 03:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 04:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 05:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 06:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 07:00 · 71 Decent · nightMon 10:00 · 71 DecentMon 13:00 · 71 DecentMon 16:00 · 71 DecentMon 19:00 · 71 DecentMon 22:00 · 79 Decent · nightTue 01:00 · 79 Decent · nightTue 04:00 · 79 Decent · nightTue 07:00 · 63 Decent · nightTue 10:00 · 77 DecentTue 13:00 · 63 DecentTue 16:00 · 63 DecentTue 19:00 · 77 DecentTue 22:00 · 77 Decent · nightWed 01:00 · 79 Decent · nightWed 04:00 · 0 Grim · nightWed 07:00 · 0 Grim · nightWed 10:00 · 0 GrimWed 13:00 · 0 GrimWed 19:00 · 0 GrimThu 01:00 · 0 Grim · nightThu 07:00 · 0 Grim · nightThu 13:00 · 0 GrimThu 19:00 · 0 Grim

Fri, 2 Oct, 09:00

89 Grand
  • chest-high 1.2 m
  • period 12 s
  • offshore wind
  • high tide
  • offshore wind
NESWsunrisesunset1.2 m23 km/h
faces 340° NNW · wind offshore
Waves
1.2 m @ 12 s from NW
Wind
23 km/h SSE · gusts 42
Tide
3.5 m · high
Air
13°C · 0.1 mm rain

Meteogram

Score, waves, wind (green offshore, amber cross, red onshore), rain and air, tide

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeSurfWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
08:0089 Grand1.2 m (1.1 swell)12 sNW19 km/h S403.0 m dry13°chest-high 1.2 m, period 12 s, offshore wind
09:0089 Grand1.2 m (1.0 swell)12 sNW23 km/h SSE423.5 m ▲0.1 mm13°chest-high 1.2 m, period 12 s, offshore wind
10:0089 Grand1.2 m (1.0 swell)12 sNW29 km/h SSE443.8 m ▲0.2 mm13°chest-high 1.2 m, period 12 s, offshore wind
11:0089 Grand1.1 m (1.0 swell)12 sNW30 km/h S463.7 m ▲0.4 mm13°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, offshore wind
12:0084 Grand1.1 m (0.9 swell)11 sNW24 km/h SSE463.3 m 1.6 mm13°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, offshore wind
13:0084 Grand1.1 m (0.9 swell)11 sNW21 km/h S452.7 m 2.1 mm13°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, offshore wind
14:0084 Grand1.1 m (0.9 swell)11 sNW23 km/h SSW432.1 m 1.0 mm13°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, offshore wind
15:0089 Grand1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h SSW411.5 m 0.4 mm13°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, offshore wind
16:0071 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW27 km/h WSW431.1 m ▼0.1 mm13°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
17:0071 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW19 km/h W421.1 m ▼dry13°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
18:0071 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW20 km/h WSW431.4 m dry13°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
19:0079 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h SW401.9 m dry12°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
20:0071 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW20 km/h WSW342.5 m dry11°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
21:0079 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h WSW333.0 m dry11°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
22:0071 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW30 km/h W323.4 m ▲dry11°chest-high 1.1 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
23:0071 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW20 km/h W313.5 m ▲dry11°chest-high 1.2 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
Saturday, 3 October
00:0071 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW23 km/h W303.3 m dry12°chest-high 1.2 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
01:0079 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW15 km/h WSW282.8 m dry11°chest-high 1.2 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
02:0079 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW13 km/h SW252.3 m dry10°chest-high 1.2 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
03:0079 Decent1.2 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW11 km/h SSW241.7 m dry10°chest-high 1.2 m, period 11 s, cross-shore wind
04:0079 Decent1.1 m (0.8 swell)11 sNW10 km/h SSW231.3 m ▼dry10°chest-high 1.2 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
05:0089 Grand1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW10 km/h SSW251.2 m ▼dry10°chest-high 1.1 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
06:0079 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW10 km/h SW271.4 m ▼dry11°chest-high 1.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
07:0071 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW18 km/h WSW281.8 m dry11°chest-high 1.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
08:0079 Decent1.1 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW16 km/h WSW272.3 m dry11°chest-high 1.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
09:0079 Decent1.1 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW15 km/h WSW262.9 m dry12°chest-high 1.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
10:0079 Decent1.1 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW16 km/h WSW263.4 m ▲dry13°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
11:0071 Decent1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW19 km/h WSW283.6 m ▲dry14°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
12:0071 Decent1.0 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW18 km/h WSW293.5 m ▲dry14°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
13:0071 Decent1.0 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW19 km/h SW303.2 m dry14°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
14:0071 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW19 km/h SW312.8 m dry15°chest-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
15:0054 Fresh0.9 m (0.4 swell)10 sNW17 km/h SW312.2 m dry15°waist-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
16:0064 Decent0.9 m (0.4 swell)10 sNW19 km/h SSW321.7 m dry15°waist-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
17:0064 Decent0.9 m (0.4 swell)10 sNW20 km/h SSW321.4 m ▼dry15°waist-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
18:0064 Decent0.8 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW14 km/h SSW311.3 m ▼dry14°waist-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
19:0064 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW12 km/h SSW291.5 m dry14°waist-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
20:0064 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW15 km/h SSW311.9 m dry14°waist-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
21:0064 Decent0.9 m (0.5 swell)10 sNW21 km/h SSW352.3 m dry14°waist-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
22:0089 Grand0.9 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW26 km/h SSW392.8 m dry14°chest-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
23:0089 Grand0.9 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW413.1 m ▲dry14°chest-high 0.9 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
Sunday, 4 October
00:0089 Grand1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW433.2 m ▲dry14°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
01:0089 Grand1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW29 km/h SSW453.1 m ▲dry14°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
02:0089 Grand1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW452.8 m dry14°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
03:0089 Grand1.0 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW31 km/h SSW462.4 m dry14°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
04:0089 Grand1.0 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW28 km/h SSW471.9 m 0.1 mm15°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
05:0089 Grand1.0 m (0.7 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW471.6 m ▼0.1 mm15°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
06:0089 Grand1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW29 km/h SSW481.4 m ▼0.1 mm15°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind
07:0089 Grand1.0 m (0.6 swell)10 sNW27 km/h SSW471.5 m ▼0.1 mm15°chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, offshore wind

Where the energy comes from

Wave energy (H²·T) this week by direction, against the swell window

Swell arriving between W and NE reaches this spot; anything else is blocked by land and counts for much less.

Tide today

Tory Island (modelled), 23 km away · metres above chart datum
03:5510:0516:3022:40
Low 03:55 · 0.9 mHigh 10:05 · 3.8 mLow 16:30 · 1.1 mHigh 22:40 · 3.5 m

The spot

Faces
340° NNW
Swell window
W 270° → NE 50°
Exposure
Bay · model cell 3.6 km out
Water
Excellent Quality · Blue Flag

Facing and swell window are derived from the wave model's coastline around the spot, not surveyed. Know better? Tell us.

Water quality

Recent grades: 2024 Excellent, 2023 Excellent, 2022 Excellent. The EPA flags a short-term pollution risk here after heavy rain.

Beach profile (PDF) · beaches.ie

On the ground

Lifeguard: YesToiletsParkingYesAccessible: YesDogs on lead (Dogs are not permitted in the Blue Flag Area of the beach from 12 pm to 7 pm (1st June to 15th September). Dogs are permitted on leads outside the Blue Flag Area at all times.)

As listed by Donegal County Council. Open in Maps.

Sauna after?

itSaunatrailer · The Wee Beach, Marble Hill, Dunfanaghy · 4 km · fixed

Cocoon Sauna · Portnablagh Pier, Dunfanaghy · 6 km · fixed

The Hot Barrel Sauna · Portsalon Pier (also Kerrykeel Pier) · 14 km · mobile

The Swilly Sauna · Main Beach car park, Rathmullan · 23 km · mobile

Downings beach consists of a sandy beach in Sheephaven Bay that is confined by Downings pier to the west and a small headland called Maslack to the South. There is a sea cave in the Maslack headland that is exposed at low tide. The Peninsula comprises an excellent variety of coastal habitats including high rock cliffs, offshore islands, sand dunes, salt marshes, a large intertidal bay and rocky shingle and sandy beaches. These habitats support a wide variety of wildlife and vegetation. Activities at Downings beach include swimming, kayaking, boating, windsurfing, sailing, surfing, power boating, jet skiing (outside the designated area), diving and other land based activities on the beach. The designated bathing area is approx. 0.273km2 and the extent along the water is approximately 687m. There is a very shallow gradient off Downings Beach with the water depth reaching 1m approx. 50m from the water line and gradually getting deeper.

Put Downings in your calendar

Dipper Plus drops the best surf hour here into your phone every day, with waves, sea temperature, tide and a 45-minute nudge. Up to three spots.

Set up Dipper Plus
🏄 Downings surf · Grand · sea 15° · 1.2 mFri, 2 Oct 07:30–08:30 · chest-high 1.2 m, period 12 s, offshore wind
🏄 Downings surf · Decent · sea 15° · 1.1 mSat, 3 Oct 07:30–08:30 · chest-high 1.1 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind
🏄 Downings surf · Decent · sea 15° · 1.0 mSun, 4 Oct 07:30–08:30 · chest-high 1.0 m, period 10 s, cross-shore wind

Nearby spots

Rosapenna Lake

1 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Marble Hill

4 km · Co. Donegal · Excellent Quality

Lough Solomon

5 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Lough Naposte

5 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Score is Dipper's own blend. It rates comfort, not safety. Forecast: Met Éireann. Waves: Marine Institute Irish Shelf wave model.