Balnakiel Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.58° N 4.77° W

Balnakiel Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 pm 14 Oct 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Balnakiel Bay sea temperature is
12.8°C
0.8° 

Balnakiel Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Balnakiel Bay surf forecast from 14 Oct 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 15 Oct, 1AM (local time) - 21ft (6.5m), 19s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 15 Oct, 1AM (local time) - 21ft (6.5m), 19s period, W swell with 27,954 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 15 Oct, 1AM (local time) - 21ft (6.5m), 19s 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 Thursday (Oct 15) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 6.5m and 19s period. 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 6.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Oct 15) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Oct 21) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Thu 15th Oct)21ft (6.5m) 19s
Best Surf 1AM (Thu 15th Oct)21ft (6.5m) 19s
Most Powerful 1AM (Thu 15th Oct)21ft (6.5m) 19s

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


Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (gales from the SSW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Fri night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon night, min 7°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wed
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
!
0
0
0
2
0
3
2
2
2
3
4
2
!
5
4
3
3
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
WSW
12
6.5
W
19
5
W
15
4.5
W
14
3.5
WNW
12
1.8
W
12
1.6
NNW
14
1.8
N
13
1.6
N
13
1.5
W
12
1.4
N
12
1.6
W
10
2.3
W
13
1.4
WSW
12
3.5
WNW
16
3
WNW
16
3
WNW
14
3
WNW
13
2.5
WNW
14
2.1
W
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3377
27954
11186
8034
3610
918
1030
1138
800
670
563
514
1811
550
6007
4972
3594
2933
2895
1657
Wind (km/h)
65
SSW
45
SW
40
SW
45
WSW
20
WSW
15
W
20
NW
10
NW
10
SW
10
WSW
10
SSW
10
SSE
0
S
10
S
10
S
0
NE
10
SSE
25
SSE
20
SE
20
SE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:42PM3.49m
10:54AM3.46m
11:18PM3.21m
11:30AM3.22m
00:00AM2.91m
12:15PM2.97m
1:00AM2.65m
1:26PM2.77m
2:41AM2.50m
3:08PM2.71m
4:20AM2.56m
4:29PM2.84m
Low Tide
4:42PM0.47m
4:56AM0.70m
5:17PM0.71m
5:30AM0.98m
5:57PM0.97m
6:10AM1.25m
6:47PM1.24m
7:01AM1.49m
7:56PM1.44m
8:18AM1.66m
9:35PM1.46m
9:58AM1.64m
10:58PM1.26m
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
—
—
7:54
—
—
7:56
—
—
7:58
—
—
8:00
—
—
8:03
—
—
8:04
—
—
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:16
—
—
6:14
—
—
6:12
—
—
6:08
—
—
6:06
—
—
6:02
—
—
6:00
—
 mm
3
1
—
—
3
—
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Temp °C
16
11
12
11
10
10
10
9
8
9
8
10
10
9
10
10
12
12
13
9
Feels °C
3
1
3
2
4
6
5
4
5
6
4
7
8
6
7
8
8
6
9
4
  • 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
How to use the Wavefinder 
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