Balnakiel Bay surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Friday 28 Nov 2025 GMT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Balnakiel Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Balnakiel Bay sea temperature is
11.0° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Balnakiel Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Balnakiel Bay over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Nov 29) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.5m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Balnakiel Bay in the next 12 days are 4.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Dec 05) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 6s period and expected on Friday (Dec 05) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sat 29th Nov)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Best Surf 9AM (Sat 29th Nov)11ft (3.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 3AM (Fri 5th Dec)15ft (4.5m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Balnakiel Bay over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Mon morning, min 3°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Fri night, light winds from the ENE by Sat night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue night. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Tue morning, min 6°C on Wed afternoon). Mainly fresh winds.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
01
Tuesday
02
Wednesday
03
Thursday
04
Fri
05
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
0
!
!
4
4
3
1
2
2
3
!
2
1
!
!
3
2
0
6
!
4
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
4.5
NNW
3.5
N
3.5
N
3
N
2.4
N
1.6
N
1.6
N
1.4
N
1.6
WNW
3
W
3.5
W
3
W
3
WSW
3.5
W
3.5
W
2.5
W
1.8
W
1.6
W
3
W
3.5
W
3
W
Period(s) (?)121212121111111317141514141514121211191716
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)4813348837042510140561059567315413224524139443134489842012041865607720773114888
Wind
(km/h)
35
NW
20
NNW
20
N
10
NE
5
SE
15
SSE
30
SE
15
SSW
20
S
15
S
30
SSW
25
S
30
S
25
SSW
20
S
20
SE
25
SE
25
SE
25
SE
15
SE
25
SE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on
crosscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
crosscrosscrosscrosscrosscrosscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
2:12AM
2.80
2:12PM
3.13
3:19AM
2.98
3:19PM
3.27
4:16AM
3.23
4:19PM
3.47
5:06AM
3.49
5:15PM
3.69
5:53AM
3.74
6:08PM
3.88
6:38AM
3.94
6:59PM
4.00
7:24AM
4.07
Low Tide
/ height (m)
7:59AM
1.41
8:52PM
0.88
9:15AM
1.30
9:56PM
0.68
10:21AM
1.06
10:54PM
0.45
11:19AM
0.75
11:46PM
0.25
12:11PM
0.44
12:35AM
0.12
1:00PM
0.17
1:23AM
0.06
1:48PM
-0.02
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
01
Tuesday
02
Wednesday
03
Thursday
04
Fri
05
Sunrise-8:37--8:40--8:41--8:42--8:45--8:47--8:48-
Sunset--3:34--3:33--3:33--3:32--3:30--3:30--3:29
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
Rain (mm)
--31--41----1--------
Temp. °C655544677787887778866
Feels °C (?)-3-2010-1032310112111120
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Balnakiel Bay:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Balnakiel Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Balnakiel Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Balnakiel Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Balnakiel Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Balnakiel 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 (Balnakiel 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 Balnakiel 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 Scotland - North Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Balnakiel Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Scotland - North Coast, consider staying in Scrabster which is 72 km (45 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Wick which is 99 km (61 miles) away

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest