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Surf Forecasts:

Balnakiel Bay surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Wednesday 18 Mar 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
7.5° C
 (Which is normal for this time of year)

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 (Mar 21) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Balnakiel Bay in the next 16 days are 5.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Mar 21) at 9AM. 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 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Mar 25) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Sat 21st Mar)15ft (4.5m) 16s
Best Surf 3AM (Sat 21st Mar)15ft (4.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sat 21st Mar)16ft (5.0m) 16s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
16 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Mostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Fri morning, min 6°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the SW by Sat morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Sat night, min 5°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds.

Wed
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
!
!
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
4
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2.5
W
2.4
W
2
W
1.8
W
1.5
W
3
WNW
3.5
W
4
WNW
5
WNW
5
WNW
4
WNW
3.5
WNW
5
WNW
5.5
WNW
5.5
WNW
5
WNW
4
WNW
2.5
WNW
2
W
1.6
N
2.4
N
Period(s) (?)111412121214141616161614141514141312111212
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)1715214711989406173306455376061208612021861356689027118781030810522506420209877141610
Wind
(km/h)
25
WSW
20
WSW
15
SW
15
WSW
15
SSW
30
SW
40
SW
30
SW
10
WSW
5
SW
30
SSW
45
WSW
35
W
25
WSW
30
SSW
40
SW
35
W
20
W
20
W
0
N
10
SE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		oncrosscross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		ononcross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		onononglasscross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
7:44PM
3.83
7:48AM
4.17
8:16PM
3.98
8:22AM
4.27
8:48PM
4.04
8:58AM
4.26
9:23PM
4.00
9:37AM
4.12
10:00PM
3.86
10:19AM
3.86
10:42PM
3.63
11:09AM
3.51
11:33PM
3.35
Low Tide
/ height (m)
1:49AM
0.26
2:12PM
-0.18
2:24AM
0.11
2:48PM
-0.24
3:01AM
0.05
3:24PM
-0.16
3:39AM
0.10
4:03PM
0.06
4:21AM
0.25
4:45PM
0.38
5:07AM
0.50
5:33PM
0.76
6:03AM
0.80
Wed
18
Thursday
19
Friday
20
Saturday
21
Sunday
22
Monday
23
Tuesday
24
Sunrise--6:24--6:22--6:18--6:16--6:13--6:11--6:07
Sunset6:27--6:29--6:31--6:34--6:36--6:38--6:40--
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
Rain (mm)
-------------1241---1
Temp. °C98899101088897765667755
Feels °C (?)33453311551-4-2-1-2-3-21122
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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:
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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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