Birsay Bay Surf Break

Birsay Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 59.13° N 3.33° W

Issued: 6 pm 10 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
10.9° C

Slightly warmer than usual

Birsay Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Birsay Bay surf forecast from 10 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 11 Jun, 1PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 13 Jun, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with 2,934 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 11 Jun, 1PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period with W swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Birsay Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Birsay Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jun 11) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Birsay Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jun 13) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jun 16) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Thu 11th Jun)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s
Best Surf 1PM (Thu 11th Jun)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s
Most Powerful 7AM (Sat 13th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Birsay Bay over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Thu morning, strong winds from the WSW by Fri morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, strong winds from the ESE by Mon night).

Wed
10
Thursday
11
Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tuesday
16
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
W
10
1.6
W
9
1.9
W
9
1.5
W
9
1.1
W
8
2.1
W
7
1.9
W
7
3
W
8
3
W
12
2.5
W
12
2.3
W
11
1.4
W
10
1.1
W
10
0.9
W
9
0.7
W
8
0.5
W
9
0.4
WSW
9
0.5
N
10
0.7
NNE
10
0.7
NNE
10
0.7
WSW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
552
417
588
349
160
478
345
1204
2346
1888
1197
379
225
133
71
39
26
51
94
96
126
Wind (km/h)
30
WSW
30
SW
25
SW
15
SSE
25
SW
40
WSW
40
WSW
40
WSW
40
W
30
WNW
30
NNW
25
NNW
25
NNW
20
NW
5
NNE
10
E
25
ESE
35
ESE
20
WSW
0
WSW
25
SE
Wind State
cross-on
cross
cross
off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-off
off
off
cross-on
glassy
off
High Tide
5:24PM2.41m
5:25AM2.62m
6:18PM2.58m
6:25AM2.76m
7:08PM2.77m
7:23AM2.92m
7:57PM2.95m
8:18AM3.04m
8:45PM3.11m
9:13AM3.12m
9:33PM3.23m
10:07AM3.11m
10:22PM3.30m
11:00AM3.03m
Low Tide
11:22PM0.98m
12:01PM0.54m
00:26AM0.80m
12:57PM0.42m
1:23AM0.58m
1:50PM0.31m
2:16AM0.35m
2:40PM0.23m
3:07AM0.15m
3:29PM0.20m
3:57AM0.01m
4:16PM0.22m
4:48AM-0.05m
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
mod rain
part cloud
cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:01
4:00
4:00
3:59
3:59
3:58
3:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:23
10:24
10:25
10:27
10:27
10:28
10:29
10:29
 mm
1
4
3
1
2
7
2
Temp °C
11
11
11
12
12
12
12
11
11
12
12
11
11
9
9
10
10
11
12
13
12
Feels °C
4
5
8
8
8
4
4
3
3
6
6
6
6
4
7
7
5
9
9
11
8
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
NNE
7
0.2
NNE
7
0.3
N
7
1.5
W
9
1.1
W
8
0.4
NNW
7
0.4
NNW
7
0.3
N
9
2.5
W
12
2.3
W
11
1.4
W
10
1.1
W
10
1
N
6
0.7
W
8
0.6
N
6
0.5
N
6
0.5
N
10
0.7
NNE
10
0.7
NNE
10
0.7
WSW
11
Energy kJ
5
5
8
349
160
17
15
15
1888
1197
379
225
78
71
24
20
51
94
96
126
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
9
0.2
N
7
0.3
N
7
0.5
N
7
0.1
W
16
0.2
W
15
0.2
NNW
6
0.2
NNE
8
0.2
NNE
8
0.9
W
9
0.6
N
6
0.5
W
9
0.4
WSW
9
0.4
WSW
10
0.4
WSW
12
0.6
WSW
11
0.6
NNE
10
Energy kJ
2
4
8
25
5
17
4
6
6
133
23
39
26
31
46
93
72
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
10
0.2
N
7
0.4
NNE
6
0.2
W
11
0.3
NNE
6
0.3
WSW
9
0.2
ENE
5
0.4
ESE
3
Energy kJ
2
4
16
9
7
16
3
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
W
10
1.6
W
9
1.9
W
9
0.3
SSE
2
0.4
SSW
3
2.1
W
7
1.9
W
7
3
W
8
3
W
12
0.9
NNW
4
1.4
N
6
1.3
N
7
0.7
SE
4
1.1
E
4
0.5
ENE
5
Energy kJ
552
417
588
1
3
478
345
1204
2346
28
166
152
12
48
15
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
1087
55
53
0
55
480
217
707
842
717
102
126
126
119
0
0
0
60
19
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
2
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
8
5
7
6
6
8
7
5
5
5
5
5
9
5
5
5
5
5
7
8
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Birsay Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Birsay Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Birsay Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Birsay Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Birsay Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Birsay Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Are you planning a holiday in Orkney Islands? If you are looking for accommodation near Birsay Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Orkney Islands, consider staying in Kirkwall which is 26 km (16 miles) away. Other places in and around Orkney Islands where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Scrabster which is 58 km (36 miles) away and Wick, 79 km (49 miles) away.

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