Surf Forecasts:
Balnakiel Bay surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, W swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 14s period, W swell with 9,995 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s. 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 5.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 7PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Balnakiel Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSE on Sun morning, near gales from the SW by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Thu afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | W 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 11 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NNW 8 | W 9 | W 8 | W 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 112 | 88 | 717 | 686 | 4793 | 7770 | 4479 | 2427 | 1297 | 372 | 184 | 61 | 131 | 346 | 492 | 482 | 512 | 331 | 1272 | 1945 | 2039 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:25PM3.00m | 5:23AM3.02m | 5:45PM3.27m | 6:32AM3.28m | 6:44PM3.61m | 7:24AM3.55m | 7:31PM3.93m | 8:07AM3.77m | 8:12PM4.16m | 8:45AM3.92m | 8:51PM4.27m | 9:20AM3.98m | 9:27PM4.26m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:07AM1.32m | 11:01PM1.06m | 11:36AM1.15m | 00:17AM0.71m | 12:38PM0.86m | 1:11AM0.34m | 1:27PM0.57m | 1:57AM0.02m | 2:09PM0.33m | 2:37AM-0.17m | 2:48PM0.17m | 3:14AM-0.23m | 3:25PM0.11m | 3:49AM-0.16m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:49 | — |
mm | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 9 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | — | — | WNW 11 | — | W 10 | NNW 7 | W 8 | W 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | W 8 | WNW 12 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 |
| kJ | 112 | 88 | 42 | 27 | 7 | — | — | 2427 | — | 257 | 131 | 61 | 131 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 331 | 1272 | 1945 | 2039 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NNE 8 | ESE 4 | W 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | N 6 | N 6 | ESE 4 | — | — | W 16 | WNW 14 | N 9 | N 8 | — |
| kJ | 64 | 55 | 2 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 19 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 195 | 6 | 6 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | W 12 | N 7 | — | — | — | N 10 | — | N 11 | — |
| kJ | 57 | 27 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | SE 4 | WSW 10 | WSW 8 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | W 11 | — | NW 10 | NNW 8 | W 9 | WSW 5 | SSE 3 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | W 7 | W 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 13 | 10 | 717 | 686 | 4793 | 7770 | 4479 | — | 1297 | 372 | 184 | 48 | 4 | 346 | 492 | 482 | 512 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 17 | 31 | 95 | 392 | 916 | 673 | 597 | 81 | 666 | 393 | 329 | 31 | 31 | 40 | 45 | 552 | 99 | 0 | 17 | 93 | 2 |
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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