Surf Forecasts:
Balnakiel Bay surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, WNW swell with 754 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period with N swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Balnakiel Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Balnakiel Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Balnakiel Bay in the next 16 days are 1.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Balnakiel Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Wed morning, strong winds from the SW by Thu afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | W 8 | WSW 5 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2314 | 932 | 520 | 450 | 514 | 452 | 379 | 363 | 434 | 426 | 239 | 198 | 157 | 111 | 142 | 81 | 449 | 402 | 273 | 145 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:14PM2.98m | 6:43AM2.95m | 7:05PM3.15m | 7:31AM3.10m | 7:48PM3.35m | 8:12AM3.25m | 8:25PM3.55m | 8:48AM3.37m | 8:59PM3.72m | 9:22AM3.45m | 9:30PM3.84m | 9:54AM3.50m | 10:00PM3.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:39AM1.20m | 12:57PM1.14m | 1:27AM0.99m | 1:39PM0.96m | 2:06AM0.77m | 2:16PM0.78m | 2:43AM0.58m | 2:50PM0.63m | 3:18AM0.41m | 3:23PM0.53m | 3:51AM0.29m | 3:56PM0.48m | ||||||||
 |  | | | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | — | 4:54 | — | — | 4:56 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — |
 | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:50 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 |
mm | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 5 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 10 | W 10 | NNW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 | N 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | — | 932 | 520 | 284 | 514 | 452 | 379 | 363 | 434 | 426 | 239 | 198 | 157 | 111 | 90 | 68 | 33 | 20 | 18 | 145 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 8 | NNW 9 | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 10 | N 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | E 7 | E 6 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | — | 167 | 287 | 119 | 212 | 173 | 377 | 332 | 202 | 130 | 158 | 133 | 105 | 63 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 8 | N 8 | — | NNW 10 | N 9 | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 |
| kJ | — | 84 | 49 | — | 173 | 205 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | — | — | W 8 | WSW 5 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — |
| kJ | 2314 | — | — | 450 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 142 | 81 | 449 | 402 | 273 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 778 | 2 | 23 | 1059 | 778 | 2 | 45 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 388 | 85 | 386 | 72 | 93 | 31 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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 16 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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