Balnakiel Bay surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Saturday 19 Jul 2025 BST
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
13.8° 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 Sunday (Jul 20) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Balnakiel Bay in the next 12 days are 2.3m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 26) 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 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 21) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Sun 20th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 11s
Best Surf 1PM (Sun 20th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 7AM (Sat 26th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 12s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
Wednesday
23
Thursday
24
Fri
25
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.2
WSW
0.2
WSW
0.2
WSW
0.2
W
0.4
WNW
0.6
W
0.8
W
0.7
W
0.6
W
0.5
W
0.4
W
0.4
W
1
WSW
1.2
W
1.4
W
1.3
W
1.1
W
1
W
1.3
W
1.3
W
1.5
W
Period(s) (?)89891211109988887910998910
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy (?)14131012571011258558352528148204401320197156215259435
Wind
(km/h)
5
SSW
15
ENE
15
E
15
E
15
ESE
20
ENE
20
ESE
10
E
5
ESE
5
S
20
SSW
25
WSW
20
WSW
20
W
20
W
10
WSW
5
SSW
15
SW
25
SW
45
SW
40
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glassoffoffoffoffoffcross-
off
offglasscrosscross-
on
cross-
on
ononononcrosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
2:34AM
3.34
3:27PM
3.11
3:49AM
3.23
4:39PM
3.14
5:08AM
3.23
5:48PM
3.27
6:21AM
3.33
6:50PM
3.47
7:24AM
3.47
7:44PM
3.69
8:18AM
3.59
8:32PM
3.89
9:05AM
3.67
Low Tide
/ height (m)
9:08AM
0.81
9:38PM
1.12
10:23AM
0.91
11:00PM
1.04
11:39AM
0.89
12:15AM
0.84
12:44PM
0.77
1:17AM
0.57
1:39PM
0.62
2:10AM
0.32
2:27PM
0.48
2:57AM
0.14
3:10PM
0.39
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
Wednesday
23
Thursday
24
Fri
25
Sunrise-4:41--4:43--4:45--4:46--4:48--4:50--4:52-
Sunset--10:07--10:06--10:04--10:01--10:00--9:58--9:55
part cloudcloudlight rainrain showerspart cloudcloudpart cloudcloudheavy rainheavy raincloudcloudcloudcloudpart cloudpart cloudpart cloudcloudrain showerspart cloudrain showers
Rain (mm)
--21----2215--------1-1
Temp. °C161618161717161715151514131313131616141414
Feels °C (?)171517141614141616131311101010101514967
  • 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

Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for Scot - North Coast

  1. weather stationWind Update Continuing clean conditions at Balnakiel Bay (calm at Edderton wx 90 km from Balnakiel Bay). 0.3m 5s windswell from the WNW with a 0.3m 5s windswell from the N and a 0.2m 8s swell from the W. Swells combining to make to make bigger set waves.

    Balnakiel Bay
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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

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