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Surf Forecasts:
Balnakiel Bay surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Wednesday 20 May 2026 BSTForecast 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
9.3° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)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 Thursday (May 21) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 11s. 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 2.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 26) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (May 20) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Thu 21st May) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Tue 26th May) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 26th May) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Balnakiel Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Sat morning, light winds from the SSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 20 | Thursday 21 | Friday 22 | Saturday 23 | Sunday 24 | Monday 25 | Tuesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
W 15 | W 14 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 12 | WNW 11 | |
440 | 487 | 382 | 222 | 303 | 83 | 50 | 75 | 296 | 156 | 233 | 359 | 399 | 166 | 248 | 757 | 678 | 885 | 797 | 1098 | 1363 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | |
High Tide | 11:11AM3.65m | 11:26PM3.82m | 12:13PM3.38m | 00:26AM3.63m | 1:23PM3.14m | 1:33AM3.46m | 2:38PM3.00m | 2:46AM3.34m | 3:51PM2.99m | 3:55AM3.29m | 4:55PM3.07m | 4:57AM3.29m | 5:47PM3.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:22PM0.52m | 5:58AM0.28m | 6:14PM0.79m | 6:59AM0.50m | 7:14PM1.05m | 8:07AM0.69m | 8:23PM1.23m | 9:21AM0.79m | 9:40PM1.30m | 10:31AM0.80m | 10:53PM1.23m | 11:30AM0.76m | 11:53PM1.10m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 4:41 | — | — | 4:39 | — | — | 4:37 | — | — | 4:35 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:50 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 10:01 |
4 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
10 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 9 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | W 14 | E 7 | WSW 9 | NNE 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 5 | W 10 | WSW 12 | N 6 | N 6 | — | — | W 18 | W 16 | W 13 | W 12 | N 7 | N 6 | W 12 | WNW 11 |
 kJ | 440 | 487 | 4 | 222 | 5 | 45 | 21 | 75 | 49 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 6 | 124 | 757 | 678 | 1 | 1 | 1098 | 1363 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | E 7 | NE 8 | W 11 | E 6 | W 11 | W 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 28 | 9 | 3 | 202 | 1 | 83 | 50 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | — | NNE 7 | E 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 5 | 5 | — | 5 | 1 | 5 | 4 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 5 | WSW 6 | — | WSW 11 | — | — | WSW 5 | WSW 10 | WSW 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 6 | WSW 9 | — | — | W 12 | W 11 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 37 | 382 | — | 303 | — | — | 44 | 296 | 156 | 233 | 359 | 399 | 166 | 248 | — | — | 885 | 797 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 87 | 45 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 33 | 57 | 45 | 77 | 45 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 99 | 99 | 0 |
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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