Lahinch
Lahinch, Munster (County Clare), Ireland
Sports: Surfing, SUP
Best time to go: January–March, October–December
Lahinch is a small town on the County Clare coast, facing Liscannor Bay and the Atlantic. The main beach breaks on most swells and gives gentle waves for learning, while reefs at the north end, such as the Lahinch Left and the Cornish Left, offer powerful waves on the right swell and tide. Easterly winds blow offshore, and autumn to spring brings the most swell.
Many surf schools work on the beach, and lifeguards patrol it in summer. The water is cold, needing a thick wetsuit in winter, and weather changes quickly. The reefs and the big-wave spots further along the coast, such as Aileens below the Cliffs of Moher, are only for experienced surfers.
Month by month at Lahinch
- January: 12 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 2.7 m, water 8°C, air 8°C (nights 4°C), 11 sunny days, 18 rainy days
- February: 16 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 14 knots, waves 2.9 m, water 9°C, air 9°C (nights 5°C), 11 sunny days, 21 rainy days
- March: 12 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 2.3 m, water 9°C, air 10°C (nights 5°C), 17 sunny days, 18 rainy days
- April: 9 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.7 m, water 11°C, air 12°C (nights 7°C), 22 sunny days, 17 rainy days
- May: 7 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 10 knots, waves 1.4 m, water 14°C, air 15°C (nights 9°C), 25 sunny days, 16 rainy days
- June: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 16°C, air 17°C (nights 11°C), 23 sunny days, 21 rainy days
- July: 8 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.3 m, water 17°C, air 17°C (nights 13°C), 23 sunny days, 21 rainy days
- August: 10 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.5 m, water 17°C, air 18°C (nights 13°C), 25 sunny days, 22 rainy days
- September: 11 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 11 knots, waves 1.8 m, water 16°C, air 16°C (nights 11°C), 20 sunny days, 19 rainy days
- October: 13 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 2 m, water 14°C, air 14°C (nights 10°C), 16 sunny days, 21 rainy days
- November: 13 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 12 knots, waves 2.5 m, water 12°C, air 11°C (nights 7°C), 12 sunny days, 23 rainy days
- December: 15 windy days (15+ knots), average wind 13 knots, waves 2.7 m, water 10°C, air 9°C (nights 5°C), 10 sunny days, 21 rainy days
When is the best time to go surfing at Lahinch?
January–March, October–December, when the waves are biggest.
How warm is the water at Lahinch?
8°C to 17°C over the year: a 4/3 full suit in the warmest month, a 6/5 with hood, boots and gloves in the coolest.
How windy is Lahinch?
About 135 days a year with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots in the daytime, most in February.
Figures from 5 years of weather data (Open-Meteo).
More: All spots in Ireland · Surfing in Ireland · SUP in Ireland
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