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Surf Forecasts:

Balnakiel Bay surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Friday 09 Jan 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
9.2° 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 Thursday (Jan 15) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Balnakiel Bay in the next 12 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jan 15) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Jan 11) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Thu 15th Jan)5ft (1.5m) 8s
Best Surf 3PM (Fri 16th Jan)7ft (2.2m) 14s
Most Powerful 9PM (Thu 15th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 17s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast A dusting of snow turning to light rain (total 7mm) on Sat night. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Sun night, min 1°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Fri morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Sat night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Mon morning, min 2°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the S on Mon morning, light winds from the S by Wed night).

Friday
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
2
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.2
W
1.9
W
1.7
W
1.9
W
1.8
W
1.7
W
1.6
WSW
1.5
WSW
1.7
W
3
SW
3.5
W
3
NW
2.1
WNW
3
WNW
3.5
WNW
3.5
WNW
3
WNW
1.7
WNW
0.9
SW
1.7
W
3
W
Period(s) (?)131212121210101112811111011111010971917
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)15351027773108888056751249475214352935176383821962934242814634277920744549
Wind
(km/h)
10
S
15
SSE
20
SSE
20
S
20
SSE
25
SSE
30
SSE
25
SSE
20
S
55
S
55
WNW
20
W
25
WSW
25
WSW
35
W
25
WSW
25
WSW
20
SSW
15
S
20
S
30
SSW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		crosscrosscross-
on		ononcross-
on		onononcross-
on		crosscrosscross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
11:49AM
3.56
12:33AM
3.06
12:39PM
3.27
1:27AM
2.91
1:37PM
3.02
2:29AM
2.81
2:45PM
2.85
3:36AM
2.80
3:58PM
2.81
4:40AM
2.88
5:05PM
2.88
5:36AM
3.03
6:00PM
3.01
Low Tide
/ height (m)
6:14PM
0.68
6:21AM
1.12
7:02PM
0.95
7:16AM
1.33
7:59PM
1.18
8:25AM
1.47
9:09PM
1.32
9:49AM
1.48
10:24PM
1.32
11:02AM
1.35
11:25PM
1.21
11:57AM
1.15
12:13AM
1.05
Friday
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Sunrise9:03--9:02--9:00--9:00--8:59--8:57--8:56--
Sunset-3:48--3:49--3:52--3:53--3:56--3:57--4:00-
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
snow showers
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
Rain (mm)
-----4-122425-221---1
Temp. °C443225568866356664446
Feels °C (?)00-2-4-4-3-200-4-6-3-3-3-2-1-1-2-1-1-1
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Latest Updates

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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.

View detailed surf forecast for Balnakiel Bay at:
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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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