Surf Forecasts:
Balnakiel Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, N swell with 715 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period with W 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 7s. 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 2.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Balnakiel Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | N 7 | NNE 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 35 | 63 | 584 | 498 | 284 | 363 | 477 | 631 | 650 | 575 | 473 | 484 | 367 | 287 | 188 | 151 | 116 | 76 | 102 | 373 | 235 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:18PM3.35m | 00:32AM3.37m | 1:00PM3.10m | 1:21AM3.04m | 1:52PM2.86m | 2:27AM2.76m | 3:08PM2.70m | 3:57AM2.62m | 4:39PM2.69m | 5:26AM2.67m | 5:55PM2.86m | 6:30AM2.85m | 6:48PM3.11m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:22PM0.80m | 6:48AM0.87m | 7:05PM1.08m | 7:32AM1.20m | 7:59PM1.35m | 8:32AM1.47m | 9:21PM1.53m | 10:08AM1.59m | 11:10PM1.50m | 11:42AM1.48m | 00:22AM1.28m | 12:38PM1.26m | 1:09AM1.01m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | | |  | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:45 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — |
 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:47 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — |
mm | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | NNE 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 11 | W 10 |
| kJ | 28 | 63 | 584 | 498 | 284 | 158 | 69 | 42 | 24 | 575 | 473 | 484 | 367 | 287 | 188 | 151 | 116 | 76 | 102 | 373 | 235 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | E 5 | NNE 7 | — | W 18 | W 17 | — | W 16 | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | W 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 35 | 11 | 61 | — | 6 | 6 | — | 5 | — | 12 | 12 | 4 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 15 | 54 | 44 | 56 | 33 | 21 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 15 | W 15 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | N 6 | NW 11 | NW 12 | W 15 | W 14 |
| kJ | 21 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 40 | 4 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 4 | — | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 2 | ENE 3 | ESE 3 |
| kJ | — | 21 | — | 103 | 194 | 363 | 477 | 631 | 650 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 244 | 325 | 325 | 769 | 119 | 254 | 249 | 249 | 143 | 276 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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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