Dipper › Co. Donegal

Portsalon

Good Quality 2025 faces NE

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Dip score now
59
Fresh · 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
3.4 m
Rising, nearly high. High at 10:05.
Wind
24 km/h
Moderate breeze, SSE, cross, gusts 44
Daylight
07:34
Sunrise. Sunset 19:05. Air 13°C.

Best dip each day

Daylight hours, preferring low tide
Today
17:00
Grand 89/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 12 km/h
▼ 03:55 ▲ 10:05 ▼ 16:30 ▲ 22:50
Sat, 3 Oct
18:00
Grand 94/100
gentle breeze, dry, calm sea · 0.1 m · 15 km/h
▼ 04:50 ▲ 11:20 ▼ 17:55
Sun, 4 Oct
19:00
Grand 86/100
moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry · 0.1 m · 21 km/h
▲ 00:35 ▼ 06:05 ▲ 13:20 ▼ 20:00
Mon, 5 Oct
10:00
Decent 78/100
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 87/100
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
Decent 78/100
gentle breeze, rain, low tide · 13 km/h
▲ 04:40 ▼ 10:25 ▲ 16:55 ▼ 23:15
Thu, 8 Oct
13:00
Grand 81/100
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 09:0058 · Freshmoderate breeze · dry
Fri 2Sat 3Sun 4Mon 5Tue 6Wed 7Thu 80003060912151821Fri 03:00 · 87 Grand · nightFri 04:00 · 87 Grand · nightFri 05:00 · 76 Decent · nightFri 06:00 · 72 Decent · nightFri 07:00 · 67 Decent · nightFri 08:00 · 62 DecentFri 09:00 · 58 FreshFri 10:00 · 45 FreshFri 11:00 · 58 FreshFri 12:00 · 54 FreshFri 13:00 · 58 FreshFri 14:00 · 65 DecentFri 15:00 · 79 DecentFri 16:00 · 81 GrandFri 17:00 · 89 GrandFri 18:00 · 84 GrandFri 19:00 · 80 GrandFri 20:00 · 76 Decent · nightFri 21:00 · 71 Decent · nightFri 22:00 · 67 Decent · nightFri 23:00 · 59 Fresh · nightSat 00:00 · 63 Decent · nightSat 01:00 · 68 Decent · nightSat 02:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 03:00 · 77 Decent · nightSat 04:00 · 88 Grand · nightSat 05:00 · 96 Grand · nightSat 06:00 · 92 Grand · nightSat 07:00 · 82 Grand · nightSat 08:00 · 77 DecentSat 09:00 · 73 DecentSat 10:00 · 69 DecentSat 11:00 · 73 DecentSat 12:00 · 69 DecentSat 13:00 · 73 DecentSat 14:00 · 77 DecentSat 15:00 · 82 GrandSat 16:00 · 86 GrandSat 17:00 · 90 GrandSat 18:00 · 94 GrandSat 19:00 · 89 GrandSat 20:00 · 85 Grand · nightSat 21:00 · 81 Grand · nightSat 22:00 · 73 Decent · nightSat 23:00 · 69 Decent · nightSun 00:00 · 64 Decent · nightSun 01:00 · 64 Decent · nightSun 02:00 · 69 Decent · nightSun 03:00 · 74 Decent · nightSun 04:00 · 79 Decent · nightSun 05:00 · 84 Grand · nightSun 06:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 07:00 · 86 Grand · nightSun 08:00 · 83 GrandSun 09:00 · 79 DecentSun 10:00 · 75 DecentSun 11:00 · 71 DecentSun 12:00 · 67 DecentSun 13:00 · 63 DecentSun 14:00 · 65 DecentSun 15:00 · 73 DecentSun 16:00 · 73 DecentSun 17:00 · 77 DecentSun 18:00 · 82 GrandSun 19:00 · 86 GrandSun 20:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 21:00 · 90 Grand · nightSun 22:00 · 85 Grand · nightSun 23:00 · 81 Grand · nightMon 00:00 · 72 Decent · nightMon 01:00 · 68 Decent · nightMon 02:00 · 63 Decent · nightMon 03:00 · 65 Decent · nightMon 04:00 · 70 Decent · nightMon 05:00 · 75 Decent · nightMon 06:00 · 80 Grand · nightMon 07:00 · 85 Grand · nightMon 10:00 · 78 DecentMon 13:00 · 62 DecentMon 16:00 · 58 FreshMon 19:00 · 75 DecentMon 22:00 · 84 Grand · nightTue 01:00 · 70 Decent · nightTue 04:00 · 60 Fresh · nightTue 07:00 · 77 Decent · nightTue 10:00 · 87 GrandTue 13:00 · 71 DecentTue 16:00 · 55 FreshTue 19:00 · 74 DecentTue 22:00 · 86 Grand · nightWed 01:00 · 73 Decent · nightWed 04:00 · 59 Fresh · nightWed 07:00 · 67 Decent · nightWed 10:00 · 78 DecentWed 13:00 · 57 FreshWed 19:00 · 58 FreshThu 01:00 · 56 Fresh · nightThu 07:00 · 58 Fresh · nightThu 13:00 · 81 GrandThu 19:00 · 51 Fresh

Fri, 2 Oct, 09:00

58 Fresh
  • moderate breeze
  • dry
  • calm sea
  • high tide
  • cross wind
NESWsunrisesunset0.1 m24 km/h
faces 39° NE · wind cross
Waves
0.1 m @ 12 s from N
Wind
24 km/h SSE · gusts 44
Tide
3.5 m · high
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
08:0062 Decent0.1 m12 sN26 km/h SSE422.9 m dry13°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
09:0058 Fresh0.1 m12 sN24 km/h SSE443.5 m ▲dry13°moderate breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0045 Fresh0.1 m12 sN28 km/h SSE463.7 m ▲0.2 mm13°moderate breeze, showers possible, calm sea
11:0058 Fresh0.1 m12 sN27 km/h S473.7 m ▲0.4 mm13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, showers possible
12:0054 Fresh0.1 m12 sN19 km/h SSW463.4 m 1.7 mm14°gentle breeze, rain, calm sea
13:0058 Fresh0.1 m12 sN13 km/h SSW442.9 m 1.8 mm14°gentle breeze, rain, calm sea
14:0065 Decent0.1 m12 sN18 km/h SSW422.3 m 1.3 mm13°gentle breeze, rain, calm sea
15:0079 Decent0.1 m11 sN14 km/h SSW391.7 m 0.8 mm13°gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea
16:0081 Grand0.1 m11 sN19 km/h SW351.4 m ▼0.2 mm13°gentle breeze, showers possible, calm sea
17:0089 Grand0.1 m11 sN12 km/h WSW341.3 m ▼dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
18:0084 Grand0.1 m11 sN17 km/h W341.5 m dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
19:0080 Grand0.1 m11 sN16 km/h W311.9 m dry12°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
20:0076 Decent0.1 m11 sN16 km/h WSW252.4 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
21:0071 Decent0.1 m11 sN14 km/h WSW232.9 m dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
22:0067 Decent0.1 m11 sN14 km/h SW233.3 m ▲dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
23:0059 Fresh0.1 m11 sN14 km/h WSW233.5 m ▲dry10°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
Saturday, 3 October
00:0063 Decent0.1 m11 sN13 km/h WSW223.4 m ▲dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
01:0068 Decent0.1 m11 sN13 km/h SW203.1 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
02:0073 Decent0.1 m11 sN13 km/h SW192.6 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
03:0077 Decent0.2 m11 sN13 km/h SW182.0 m dry9°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
04:0088 Grand0.2 m11 sN12 km/h SW181.6 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
05:0096 Grand0.2 m11 sN10 km/h SSW181.4 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
06:0092 Grand0.2 m11 sN10 km/h SW181.5 m ▼dry10°light winds, dry, calm sea
07:0082 Grand0.2 m11 sN14 km/h WSW181.9 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
08:0077 Decent0.2 m11 sN14 km/h WSW182.3 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
09:0073 Decent0.2 m10 sN15 km/h WSW192.8 m dry11°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
10:0069 Decent0.2 m10 sN13 km/h WSW203.2 m dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
11:0073 Decent0.1 m10 sN12 km/h SW223.4 m ▲dry14°light winds, dry, calm sea
12:0069 Decent0.1 m10 sN12 km/h SW243.4 m ▲dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
13:0073 Decent0.1 m10 sN15 km/h SW263.3 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
14:0077 Decent0.1 m10 sN17 km/h SSW273.0 m dry15°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
15:0082 Grand0.1 m10 sN14 km/h SSW282.5 m dry16°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
16:0086 Grand0.1 m10 sN16 km/h SSW282.0 m dry16°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
17:0090 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
19:0089 Grand0.1 m10 sN16 km/h S261.6 m ▼dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
20:0085 Grand0.1 m10 sN19 km/h S281.9 m dry14°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
21:0081 Grand0.1 m10 sN19 km/h S302.2 m dry13°gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
22:0073 Decent0.1 m10 sN21 km/h S322.6 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
23:0069 Decent0.1 m10 sN24 km/h S342.9 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
Sunday, 4 October
00:0064 Decent0.1 m10 sN23 km/h S353.1 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
01:0064 Decent0.1 m10 sN22 km/h S363.1 m ▲dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
02:0069 Decent0.1 m11 sN26 km/h S463.0 m dry13°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
03:0074 Decent0.1 m11 sN26 km/h SSW462.6 m dry14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
04:0079 Decent0.1 m11 sN25 km/h SSW462.2 m 0.1 mm14°moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry
05:0084 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
07:0086 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 17:30–18:30 · gentle breeze, dry, calm sea
🌊 Portsalon dip · Grand · sea 15° · 0.1 mSun, 4 Oct 18:30–19:30 · moderate breeze, offshore, flatter inshore, dry

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.