Balnakiel Bay surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Friday 13 Mar 2026 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
7.6° 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 Monday (Mar 16) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 6.5m and 19s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Balnakiel Bay in the next 16 days are 7.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Mar 16) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Mar 17) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Mon 16th Mar)21ft (6.5m) 19s
Best Surf12AM (Mon 16th Mar)21ft (6.5m) 19s
Most Powerful 6AM (Mon 16th Mar)25ft (7.5m) 19s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Sat morning, min 4°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the WSW on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the WSW by Sun night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the WSW by Thu afternoon).

Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Fri
20
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
!
!
0
!
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
5.5
WNW
4.5
WNW
3.5
WNW
3
WNW
3
W
3.5
W
6.5
W
7.5
W
6.5
W
4.5
W
3.5
W
3.5
WSW
3.5
WSW
3.5
W
3
W
2.3
W
2
W
1.7
W
1.4
WNW
1.2
N
1
W
Period(s) (?)141312131211191918161413131312141212111110
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1141960363357290623772973327083808225611108324379360543914029316519051174800504369216
Wind
(km/h)
40
W
35
WSW
30
W
30
SSW
40
WSW
50
WSW
45
SW
45
SW
35
SW
50
SW
25
SSE
40
WSW
50
SSW
45
SW
45
SW
30
WSW
15
WSW
15
WSW
10
S
5
SSW
0
E
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
onononcross-
on
oncross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
oncross-
on
crosscross-
on
glass
High Tide
/ height (m)
4:41AM
2.79
5:21PM
2.79
5:33AM
3.09
6:05PM
3.07
6:11AM
3.40
6:40PM
3.35
6:44AM
3.71
7:13PM
3.62
7:15AM
3.97
7:44PM
3.83
7:48AM
4.17
8:16PM
3.98
8:22AM
4.27
Low Tide
/ height (m)
10:20PM
1.59
11:08AM
1.33
11:23PM
1.33
11:54AM
0.98
12:04AM
1.03
12:31PM
0.62
12:40AM
0.74
1:05PM
0.28
1:15AM
0.47
1:38PM
-0.00
1:49AM
0.26
2:12PM
-0.18
2:24AM
0.11
2:48PM
-0.24
Saturday
14
Sunday
15
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Thursday
19
Fri
20
Sunrise-6:39--6:35--6:33--6:31--6:28--6:24--6:22-
Sunset--6:17--6:20--6:22--6:24--6:27--6:29--6:31
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
4221323-16-22--------
Temp. °C67765557711128899877789
Feels °C (?)-4-1-1-1-4-6-6-32260-3-2-1133457
  • 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 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

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest