Surf Forecasts:
Balnakiel Bay surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, W swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, W swell with 4,482 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s 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 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Balnakiel Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Balnakiel Bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the WSW by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Sat morning, strong winds from the SW by Sun night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | NNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 7 | W 9 | W 10 | W 8 | W 10 | W 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NNW 12 | WSW 8 | W 10 | WSW 10 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1885 | 924 | 220 | 180 | 60 | 152 | 257 | 865 | 825 | 1275 | 3980 | 3762 | 2685 | 1706 | 908 | 551 | 288 | 486 | 800 | 907 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 9:53AM3.95m | 10:02PM4.13m | 10:25AM3.84m | 10:37PM3.91m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:00PM0.14m | 4:23AM0.02m | 4:35PM0.27m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | 8:00 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 10 | NNW 7 | W 9 | W 5 | W 7 | W 9 | N 7 | — | WNW 13 | N 10 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | N 11 |
| kJ | — | 127 | 220 | 180 | 37 | 152 | 257 | 4 | — | 125 | 8 | 3762 | 2685 | 1706 | 908 | 551 | 220 | 224 | 164 | 88 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 9 | N 7 | W 8 | N 7 | NNE 7 | E 7 | — | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | NNW 13 | NNW 14 | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | ESE 4 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 202 | 94 | 60 | 28 | 18 | 1 | — | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 68 | 336 | 514 | 288 | 1 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | N 7 | W 12 | — | — | — | W 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 34 | 11 | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | NNW 9 | — | — | SSW 4 | SSE 3 | SE 4 | W 10 | W 8 | W 10 | W 13 | — | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | WSW 8 | W 10 | WSW 10 |
| kJ | 1885 | 924 | — | — | 7 | 4 | 9 | 865 | 825 | 1275 | 3980 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 486 | 800 | 907 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 596 | 933 | 2 | 2 | 31 | 31 | 2 | 217 | 730 | 536 | 50 | 57 | 72 | 40 | 2 | 45 | 33 | 45 | 99 | 192 |
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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