Surf Forecasts:
Balnakiel Bay surf forecast from 23 Oct 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 25 Oct, 9AM (local time) - 31ft (9.5m), 13s period, W swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 25 Oct, 12PM (local time) - 36ft (11.0m), 15s period, WNW swell with 48,621 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 23 Oct, 4AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 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 Friday (Oct 23) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. 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 11.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Oct 25) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Oct 24) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 23rd Oct) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 25th Oct) | 31ft (9.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sun 25th Oct) | 36ft (11.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Balnakiel Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Thu night, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Fri morning, stormy winds from the W by Sun morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon night, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Mon morning, stormy winds from the SW by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 23 | Saturday 24 | Sunday 25 | Monday 26 | Tuesday 27 | Wednesday 28 | Thursday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 12 | W 12 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 13 | WNW 14 | WNW 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 14 | W 13 | WNW 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1198 | 1415 | 1909 | 2101 | 1027 | 1786 | 29746 | 40036 | 14233 | 2219 | 1049 | 617 | 9098 | 26838 | 20845 | 6783 | 3270 | 1470 | 841 | 489 | 365 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:44AM3.32m | 6:43PM3.57m | 7:16AM3.58m | 7:18PM3.80m | 7:49AM3.81m | 7:54PM3.99m | 8:22AM3.97m | 8:32PM4.09m | 8:56AM4.06m | 9:12PM4.10m | 9:34AM4.04m | 9:55PM3.99m | 10:14AM3.94m | 10:42PM3.76m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:45PM0.90m | 1:07AM0.37m | 1:22PM0.62m | 1:43AM0.13m | 1:59PM0.37m | 2:19AM-0.02m | 2:37PM0.17m | 2:57AM-0.07m | 3:16PM0.06m | 3:37AM-0.00m | 3:58PM0.05m | 4:19AM0.18m | 4:43PM0.16m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | 8:11 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 8:18 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:26 | — | — |
 | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 4:47 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:37 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | 13 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 4 | 5 | 4 | -2 | -3 | -2 | -10 | -8 | -3 | 6 | 5 | 7 | -8 | -6 | -7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | W 12 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | — | — | — | W 12 | W 11 | W 12 | — | — | — | — | NNW 10 | N 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 |
| kJ | 1198 | 1415 | 1909 | 2101 | 1027 | 1786 | — | — | — | 2219 | 1049 | 617 | — | — | — | — | 1020 | 604 | 841 | 489 | 365 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NNW 12 | N 12 | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | — | — | — | NNW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | N 11 | N 11 | N 10 |
| kJ | 9 | 7 | 26 | 44 | 32 | 29 | — | — | — | 761 | 597 | 93 | — | — | — | — | — | 241 | 381 | 319 | 156 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | N 8 | N 9 | — | — | ESE 10 | — | — | — | WNW 11 | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 11 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | 814 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 234 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | — | — | — | ESE 6 | SSE 5 | W 13 | WNW 14 | WNW 12 | — | SSE 3 | ESE 7 | WSW 11 | W 14 | W 13 | WNW 12 | W 12 | W 11 | — | SE 3 | ESE 4 |
| kJ | 4 | — | — | — | 314 | 83 | 29746 | 40036 | 14233 | — | 3 | 262 | 9098 | 26838 | 20845 | 6783 | 3270 | 1470 | — | 2 | 40 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 719 | 729 | 672 | 1070 | 781 | 22 | 33 | 17 | 809 | 434 | 1059 | 1037 | 224 | 164 | 17 | 0 | 552 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 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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