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Surf Forecasts:

Bay of Skaill surfForecast / Scot – Orkney / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Friday 09 Jan 2026 GMT
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
8.8° C
 (Which is 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 Tuesday (Jan 13) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bay of Skaill in the next 12 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jan 16) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jan 11) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 13th Jan)13ft (4.0m) 11s
Best Surf12AM (Tue 13th Jan)13ft (4.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 3AM (Fri 16th Jan)10ft (3.0m) 17s

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

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

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 10°C on Sun night, min 4°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (fresh winds from the S on Fri afternoon, severe gales from the SW by Mon morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Mon afternoon, min 4°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (gales from the WSW on Mon afternoon, light winds from the NW by Tue night).

Fri
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
3
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
0
0
1
1
1
2
0
2
!
!
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2
W
1.7
W
1.9
W
1.7
W
1.5
W
0.9
W
1.6
WSW
1.2
W
1.3
W
4
WSW
4
NW
2.5
NNW
2.3
NNW
2.5
NNW
2
NNW
1.7
NNW
1.5
NNW
1.2
NNW
1.6
WNW
3
W
3
W
Period(s) (?)12121312111010121181111121413121211191716
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)11558001237805505153454404426198332821715154624661336820579356200752524161
Wind
(km/h)
30
S
50
SSE
50
S
40
S
45
S
65
S
60
SSE
50
S
70
S
65
WSW
20
W
45
WSW
40
WSW
20
NW
25
W
30
WSW
30
SSE
45
SSE
40
SSE
10
SW
10
SE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
offoffoffoffoffoffoffoffcross-
off		crosscrosscrosscrossoncrosscrossoffoffoffcross-
off		off
High Tide
/ height (m)
1:22AM
2.37
1:27PM
2.61
2:18AM
2.27
2:27PM
2.41
3:20AM
2.22
3:37PM
2.29
4:28AM
2.24
4:50PM
2.27
5:31AM
2.33
5:56PM
2.34
6:25AM
2.47
6:50PM
2.46
7:11AM
2.63
Low Tide
/ height (m)
7:01PM
0.54
7:04AM
0.92
7:51PM
0.77
8:02AM
1.09
8:51PM
0.96
9:17AM
1.20
10:04PM
1.07
10:43AM
1.19
11:17PM
1.08
11:53AM
1.09
12:14AM
1.00
12:44PM
0.93
12:59AM
0.87
Fri
09
Saturday
10
Sunday
11
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Sunrise--9:00--8:59--8:57--8:56--8:55--8:53--8:52
Sunset3:38--3:41--3:42--3:44--3:45--3:48--3:51--
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
Rain (mm)
21--7426111211-------
Temp. °C6655688108765566656666
Feels °C (?)-3-5-7-5-9-3-50-7-7-5-6-50-2-2-1-4-322
  • 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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Latest Updates

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Huntington, Dribbleton, Virginia, Holland and the Superbank! We recently had a look at the world’s most consistent waves. This was based on the combination of swells and wind directed at 7,000 surf spots, as compiled from our data since 2006. Those stats, represented in easy-to-read graphics, are located under each wave’s spot guides, with historical swell and wind breakdowns available by month, season, and year. There is also an offshore filter, which shows how often the swells come with clean

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View detailed surf forecast for Bay of Skaill at:
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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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