Dipper › Co. Donegal

Portsalon

Good Quality 2025 faces NE

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Dip score now
81
Grand · moderate breeze, dry
Waves
0.1 m
12 s period from N · model cell 2.7 km out
Sea
15.1°
Grand. M2 buoy, Irish Sea east of Dublin, 237 km away.
Tide
3.0 m
Rising, nearly high. High at 10:05.
Wind
26 km/h
Moderate breeze, SSE, cross, gusts 42
Daylight
07:34
Sunrise. Sunset 19:05. Air 13°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours
Today
17:00
Grand 91/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 12 km/h
▼ 03:55 ▲ 10:05 ▼ 16:30 ▲ 22:50
Sat, 3 Oct
11:00
Grand 100/100
light winds, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 12 km/h
▼ 04:50 ▲ 11:20 ▼ 17:55
Sun, 4 Oct
15:00
Grand 94/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 19 km/h
▲ 00:35 ▼ 06:05 ▲ 13:20 ▼ 20:00
Mon, 5 Oct
10:00
Grand 86/100
gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea · 0.2 m · 18 km/h
▲ 02:20 ▼ 08:00 ▲ 15:00 ▼ 21:40
Tue, 6 Oct
10:00
Grand 89/100
light winds, showers possible, calm sea · 0.3 m · 11 km/h
▲ 03:35 ▼ 09:25 ▲ 16:05 ▼ 22:35
Wed, 7 Oct
10:00
Grand 80/100
gentle breeze, rain, low tide · 13 km/h
▲ 04:40 ▼ 10:25 ▲ 16:55 ▼ 23:15
Thu, 8 Oct
13:00
Grand 89/100
light winds, showers possible · 12 km/h
▲ 05:20 ▼ 11:10 ▲ 17:40 ▼ 23:55

Week at a glance

Tap or drag to pick an hour. Everything below follows.
Fri 08:0081 · Grandmoderate breeze · dry
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 03:00 · 91 Grand · nightFri 04:00 · 87 Grand · nightFri 05:00 · 81 Grand · nightFri 06:00 · 81 Grand · nightFri 07:00 · 81 Grand · nightFri 08:00 · 81 GrandFri 09:00 · 81 GrandFri 10:00 · 73 DecentFri 11:00 · 82 GrandFri 12:00 · 74 DecentFri 13:00 · 73 DecentFri 14:00 · 76 DecentFri 15:00 · 86 GrandFri 16:00 · 83 GrandFri 17:00 · 91 GrandFri 18:00 · 91 GrandFri 19:00 · 91 GrandFri 20:00 · 91 Grand · nightFri 21:00 · 91 Grand · nightFri 22:00 · 91 Grand · nightFri 23:00 · 86 Grand · nightSat 00:00 · 86 Grand · nightSat 01:00 · 86 Grand · nightSat 02:00 · 86 Grand · nightSat 03:00 · 86 Grand · nightSat 04:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 05:00 · 97 Grand · nightSat 06:00 · 97 Grand · nightSat 07:00 · 91 Grand · nightSat 08:00 · 91 GrandSat 09:00 · 91 GrandSat 10:00 · 91 GrandSat 11:00 · 100 GrandSat 12:00 · 94 GrandSat 13:00 · 94 GrandSat 14:00 · 94 GrandSat 15:00 · 94 GrandSat 16:00 · 94 GrandSat 17:00 · 94 GrandSat 18:00 · 94 GrandSat 19:00 · 94 GrandSat 20:00 · 94 Grand · nightSat 21:00 · 94 Grand · nightSat 22:00 · 90 Grand · nightSat 23:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 00:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 01:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 02:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 03:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 04:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 05:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 06:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 07:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 08:00 · 90 GrandSun 09:00 · 90 GrandSun 10:00 · 90 GrandSun 11:00 · 90 GrandSun 12:00 · 90 GrandSun 13:00 · 90 GrandSun 14:00 · 90 GrandSun 15:00 · 94 GrandSun 16:00 · 90 GrandSun 17:00 · 90 GrandSun 18:00 · 90 GrandSun 19:00 · 90 GrandSun 20:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 21:00 · 94 Grand · nightSun 22:00 · 94 Grand · nightSun 23:00 · 94 Grand · nightMon 00:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 01:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 02:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 03:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 04:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 05:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 06:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 07:00 · 90 Grand · nightMon 10:00 · 86 GrandMon 13:00 · 82 GrandMon 16:00 · 82 GrandMon 19:00 · 86 GrandMon 22:00 · 86 Grand · nightTue 01:00 · 86 Grand · nightTue 04:00 · 86 Grand · nightTue 07:00 · 89 Grand · nightTue 10:00 · 89 GrandTue 13:00 · 86 GrandTue 16:00 · 83 GrandTue 19:00 · 89 GrandTue 22:00 · 89 Grand · nightWed 01:00 · 84 Grand · nightWed 04:00 · 84 Grand · nightWed 07:00 · 84 Grand · nightWed 10:00 · 80 GrandWed 13:00 · 69 DecentWed 19:00 · 77 DecentThu 01:00 · 64 Decent · nightThu 07:00 · 78 Decent · nightThu 13:00 · 89 GrandThu 19:00 · 73 Decent

Fri, 2 Oct, 08:00

81 Grand
  • moderate breeze
  • dry
  • calm sea
  • cross wind
NESWsunrisesunset0.1 m26 km/h
faces 39° NE · wind cross
Waves
0.1 m @ 12 s from N
Wind
26 km/h SSE · gusts 42
Tide
2.9 m · upper half
Air
13°C · dry

Meteogram

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

Hour by hour

Next 48 hours
TimeDipWavesPeriodFromWindGustTideRainAirWhy
Today
08:0081 Grand0.1 m12 sN26 km/h SSE422.9 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
09:0081 Grand0.1 m12 sN24 km/h SSE443.5 m ▲dry13°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0073 Decent0.1 m12 sN28 km/h SSE463.7 m ▲0.2 mm13°moderate breeze, showers possible, calm sea
11:0082 Grand0.1 m12 sN27 km/h S473.7 m ▲0.4 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible
12:0074 Decent0.1 m12 sN19 km/h SSW463.4 m 1.7 mm14°gentle breeze, rain, calm sea
13:0073 Decent0.1 m12 sN13 km/h SSW442.9 m 1.8 mm14°gentle breeze, rain, calm sea
14:0076 Decent0.1 m12 sN18 km/h SSW422.3 m 1.3 mm13°gentle breeze, rain, calm sea
15:0086 Grand0.1 m11 sN14 km/h SSW391.7 m 0.8 mm13°gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea
16:0083 Grand0.1 m11 sN19 km/h SW351.4 m ▼0.2 mm13°gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea
17:0091 Grand0.1 m11 sN12 km/h WSW341.3 m ▼dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0091 Grand0.1 m11 sN17 km/h W341.5 m dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
19:0091 Grand0.1 m11 sN16 km/h W311.9 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
20:0091 Grand0.1 m11 sN16 km/h WSW252.4 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
21:0091 Grand0.1 m11 sN14 km/h WSW232.9 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
22:0091 Grand0.1 m11 sN14 km/h SW233.3 m ▲dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
23:0086 Grand0.1 m11 sN14 km/h WSW233.5 m ▲dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
Saturday, 3 October
00:0086 Grand0.1 m11 sN13 km/h WSW223.4 m ▲dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
01:0086 Grand0.1 m11 sN13 km/h SW203.1 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
02:0086 Grand0.1 m11 sN13 km/h SW192.6 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
03:0086 Grand0.2 m11 sN13 km/h SW182.0 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
04:0092 Grand0.2 m11 sN12 km/h SW181.6 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
05:0097 Grand0.2 m11 sN10 km/h SSW181.4 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
06:0097 Grand0.2 m11 sN10 km/h SW181.5 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
07:0091 Grand0.2 m11 sN14 km/h WSW181.9 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
08:0091 Grand0.2 m11 sN14 km/h WSW182.3 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
09:0091 Grand0.2 m10 sN15 km/h WSW192.8 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0091 Grand0.2 m10 sN13 km/h WSW203.2 m dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
11:00100 Grand0.1 m10 sN12 km/h SW223.4 m ▲dry14°light winds, dry, calm sea
12:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN12 km/h SW243.4 m ▲dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
13:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN15 km/h SW263.3 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
14:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN17 km/h SSW273.0 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
15:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN14 km/h SSW282.5 m dry16°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
16:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN16 km/h SSW282.0 m dry16°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
17:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN15 km/h SSW281.7 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN15 km/h S271.6 m ▼dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
19:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN16 km/h S261.6 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
20:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN19 km/h S281.9 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
21:0094 Grand0.1 m10 sN19 km/h S302.2 m dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
22:0090 Grand0.1 m10 sN21 km/h S322.6 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
23:0090 Grand0.1 m10 sN24 km/h S342.9 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
Sunday, 4 October
00:0090 Grand0.1 m10 sN23 km/h S353.1 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
01:0090 Grand0.1 m10 sN22 km/h S363.1 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
02:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN26 km/h S463.0 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
03:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN26 km/h SSW462.6 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
04:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN25 km/h SSW462.2 m 0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
05:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN24 km/h SSW461.8 m 0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
06:0090 Grand0.1 m11 sN23 km/h SW451.6 m ▼0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
07:0090 Grand0.1 m10 sN22 km/h SW451.7 m ▼0.1 mm15°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry

Where the energy comes from

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

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

Tide today

Buncrana, 12 km away · metres above chart datum
03:5510:0516:3022:50
Low 03:55 · 1.1 mHigh 10:05 · 3.7 mLow 16:30 · 1.3 mHigh 22:50 · 3.5 m

The spot

Faces
39° NE
Swell window
WNW 300° → ENE 60°
Exposure
Open coast · model cell 2.7 km out
Water
Good Quality

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: YesToiletsParkingAccessible: New boardwalk to beach through dunes.Dogs on lead (Dogs are not permitted in the Blue Flag Area of this beach from 12 pm to 7 pm (1st June - 15th September annually). Dogs are permitted on leads outside the Blue Flag Area at all times.)

As listed by Donegal County Council. Open in Maps.

Sauna after?

The Hot Barrel Sauna · Portsalon Pier (also Kerrykeel Pier) · 2 km · mobile

The Swilly Sauna · Main Beach car park, Rathmullan · 12 km · mobile

itSaunatrailer · The Wee Beach, Marble Hill, Dunfanaghy · 19 km · fixed

Cocoon Sauna · Portnablagh Pier, Dunfanaghy · 20 km · fixed

Portsalon beach consists of a sandy beach along the Swilly Estuary, sheltered to the south by the high rocky headland of Knockalla and contained to the north by flat land. These are exposed at times during the tidal phase during the day. Portsalon beach supports a wide variety of seabirds and wildfowl. The Horn Head to Fanad Head SPA is situated near to this beach. This site is of high conservation value because of the extensive area of relatively unspoilt coastal habitats and the range of plant and animal species that these habitats support. The catchment area is an idyllic location for bird watching and ecological activities. Activities at Portsalon Beach include swimming, surfing, wind surfing and other land-based activities such as football, kite flying, etc. The bathing area is designated and is approx. 0.588 km2 and the extent along the water is approximately is 3060 m. The depth of the water on the shoreline increases within 2 meters off the shore to a depth of 1 meters and gradually increases.

Put Portsalon in your calendar

Dipper Plus drops the best dip 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
🌊 Portsalon dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.1 mFri, 2 Oct 16:30–17:30 · gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
🌊 Portsalon dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.1 mSat, 3 Oct 10:30–11:30 · light winds, dry, calm sea
🌊 Portsalon dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.1 mSun, 4 Oct 14:30–15:30 · gentle breeze, dry, calm sea

Nearby spots

Bran Lough

3 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Knockalla Lough

4 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Ballynashannagh Lough

4 km · Co. Donegal · Not classified

Lough Doira

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.