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Surf Forecasts:

Balnakiel Bay surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Saturday 17 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
9.0° 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 Sunday (Jan 18) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m 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 12 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jan 19) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 4.0m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jan 22) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Sun 18th Jan)3.5ft (1.0m) 11s
Best Surf 3PM (Mon 19th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 16s
Most Powerful 6PM (Mon 19th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 16s

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 Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Tue afternoon, min 5°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Tue night, min 4°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the SE on Wed afternoon, gales from the ESE by Fri morning).

Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Sat
24
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
1
3
5
5
4
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.1
W
1
W
0.8
W
0.6
W
0.9
WNW
3
W
3
W
3
W
2.5
W
2.1
W
1.5
W
1.3
W
1.1
W
0.6
W
1.6
W
1.5
W
1.4
W
1.1
W
1.5
W
1.6
W
1.6
W
Period(s) (?)111110101916161615141312122118151313171616
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)30822912866664416849494414320018047825043563231537979683398131113061253
Wind
(km/h)
10
S
20
SE
15
SSE
15
SSE
15
SSE
15
SSE
0
SSE
20
ESE
20
ESE
40
SE
50
ESE
30
SE
50
SE
55
SE
50
SE
60
ESE
60
ESE
55
ESE
50
ESE
45
ESE
45
ESE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		glasscross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		off
High Tide
/ height (m)
7:39AM
3.61
8:00PM
3.42
8:12AM
3.77
8:34PM
3.50
8:43AM
3.89
9:07PM
3.54
9:14AM
3.96
9:40PM
3.54
9:46AM
3.96
10:15PM
3.50
10:20AM
3.89
10:52PM
3.42
10:59AM
3.76
Low Tide
/ height (m)
1:30AM
0.69
1:56PM
0.52
2:04AM
0.55
2:31PM
0.36
2:37AM
0.46
3:06PM
0.24
3:11AM
0.43
3:40PM
0.19
3:45AM
0.46
4:16PM
0.19
4:21AM
0.54
4:53PM
0.27
5:00AM
0.67
5:34PM
0.42
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Wednesday
21
Thursday
22
Friday
23
Sat
24
Sunrise-8:52--8:51--8:48--8:47--8:45--8:44--8:41-
Sunset--4:06--4:07--4:09--4:13--4:15--4:16--4:20
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
-------1--1-3211-----
Temp. °C666666667887875555543
Feels °C (?)211112112-1-1-1-3-4-6-8-8-7-7-7-8
  • 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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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:
surf-forecast.com

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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