Bay of Skaill surfForecast / Scot – Orkney / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Thursday 17 Jul 2025 BST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Bay of Skaill surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Bay of Skaill sea temperature is
13.4° C
(Which is 1.1°C warmer than normal for this time of year)


Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Bay of Skaill this week:

The surf forecast for Bay of Skaill over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 20) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bay of Skaill in the next 12 days are 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 23) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 17) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sun 20th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 12s
Best Surf10AM (Sun 20th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 12s
Most Powerful 1PM (Wed 23rd Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Bay of Skaill over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
Wednesday
23
Thursday
24
Friday
25
Saturday
26
Sunday
27
Mon
28
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.3
NNE
0.3
NNE
0.2
W
0.2
W
0.2
NNE
0.2
W
0.3
WSW
0.4
WSW
0.2
WSW
0.3
WSW
0.4
WNW
0.6
W
0.9
W
0.8
W
0.7
W
2.1
W
1.8
WNW
1.4
WNW
1
WNW
2.1
WNW
2.2
W
2.1
WNW
2.2
WNW
1.9
WNW
1.2
WNW
1.8
W
1.8
W
2
W
1.7
W
1.6
W
1.3
W
1.1
W
1.1
W
1.4
WSW
1.4
W
1.4
W
Period(s) (?)767778868712111010977768877766788888881010
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy (?)141388106201814216411217011982413350172116629659468457338135258307480395374246193231385413405
Wind
(km/h)
5
NW
10
SE
25
ESE
30
SSE
15
S
10
NNE
15
N
10
E
20
ESE
20
ESE
15
E
15
E
20
E
20
SE
20
ESE
25
SW
40
W
35
WSW
30
WSW
40
W
45
W
40
NW
40
WNW
35
WNW
25
WNW
20
SSE
25
SSW
25
W
30
WSW
15
WSW
20
SW
20
SW
10
SSW
10
SE
25
ENE
30
NE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
glassoffcross-
off
offoffcross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
crosscrosscrosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
offcross-
off
cross-
on
crosscrosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
offcrosscross-
on
High Tide
/ height (m)
1:20AM
2.91
2:08PM
2.49
2:15AM
2.77
3:08PM
2.44
3:21AM
2.64
4:16PM
2.43
4:38AM
2.57
5:28PM
2.50
5:57AM
2.59
6:36PM
2.63
7:10AM
2.68
7:37PM
2.81
8:12AM
2.80
8:30PM
2.99
9:05AM
2.89
9:17PM
3.15
9:52AM
2.93
10:01PM
3.26
10:35AM
2.92
10:41PM
3.29
11:15AM
2.86
11:20PM
3.25
11:53AM
2.76
Low Tide
/ height (m)
7:54AM
0.37
8:03PM
0.77
8:48AM
0.52
9:06PM
0.88
9:54AM
0.67
10:23PM
0.93
11:10AM
0.75
11:47PM
0.85
12:25PM
0.74
1:00AM
0.67
1:29PM
0.65
2:01AM
0.46
2:22PM
0.53
2:53AM
0.25
3:09PM
0.42
3:40AM
0.10
3:51PM
0.34
4:24AM
0.02
4:30PM
0.32
5:04AM
0.02
5:08PM
0.35
5:43AM
0.09
5:44PM
0.44
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
Wednesday
23
Thursday
24
Friday
25
Saturday
26
Sunday
27
Mon
28
Sunrise-4:28--4:28--4:31--4:33--4:35--4:37--4:39--4:41--4:43--4:45--4:48--4:50-
Sunset--10:08--10:07--10:06--10:04--10:01--10:00--9:58--9:55--9:53--9:52--9:50--9:47
clearclearpart cloudpart cloudclearpart cloudpart cloudpart cloudcloudpart cloudpart cloudcloudcloudpart cloudclearrain showerslight raincloudpart cloudcloudcloudmod rainpart cloudcloudpart cloudcloudrain showersclearclearpart cloudclearpart cloudpart cloudcloudcloudcloud
Rain (mm)
---------------11----8----1---------
Temp. °C161615151616161415151414141414141313131313131213131314131314131414141313
Feels °C (?)151411914141413111112121111111367765647891088111011121298

Short Range Forecast: Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed night, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the SE by Thu night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat night, min 13°C on Mon night). Mainly strong winds.

Days 6-9 Weather Summary Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SW by Thu night).

Long Range Forecast: Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Fri night, light winds from the SSW by Sun afternoon).

  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Eyeball surf reportRecent Eyeball Surf Reports for Scot - Orkney

  1. weather stationWind Update Continuing clean conditions at Bay of Skaill (calm at Stromness 16 km from Bay of Skaill). 0.4m 7s swell from the N with a 0.2m 8s swell from the WNW and a 0.1m 2s local chop from the N. Swells combining to make to make bigger set waves.

    Bay of Skaill
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Information about the Bay of Skaill Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Bay of Skaill provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 12 days. A general guide to surfing at Bay of Skaill can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Bay of Skaill 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 (Bay of Skaill) 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 Bay of Skaill 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 Orkney Islands? If you are looking for accommodation near Bay of Skaill, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Orkney Islands, consider staying in Kirkwall which is 23 km (14 miles) away. Other places in and around Orkney Islands where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Scrabster which is 50 km (31 miles) away and Wick, 71 km (44 miles) away.

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