Bay of Skaill surfForecast / Scot – Orkney / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Friday 14 Nov 2025 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
11.8° C
(Which is 1.4°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 Saturday (Nov 15) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s. 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 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Nov 19) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Friday (Nov 21) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sat 15th Nov)4.5ft (1.4m) 11s
Best Surf 6AM (Tue 18th Nov)7ft (2.1m) 11s
Most Powerful 3AM (Wed 19th Nov)11ft (3.5m) 11s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Sat night, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, near gales from the N by Sun night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Wed night. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Tue morning, min 4°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Mon night, near gales from the N by Wed afternoon).

Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Fri
21
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.6
N
1.4
N
1.2
N
1
N
1.6
NNW
1.7
NNW
3.5
N
2.5
N
2.5
N
2.3
N
2
N
2.5
N
3.5
N
3
N
3
N
3
N
3
N
2.3
N
1.7
N
1
N
0.6
W
Period(s) (?)101111109109101012111211101010101010914
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)54148333819242252917551490138614069841817254921221993166714781039567164132
Wind
(km/h)
25
E
15
ESE
5
NNW
30
NW
35
N
40
NNW
45
N
35
NNW
30
NNW
15
NW
25
ESE
35
ENE
45
NNE
50
N
50
N
55
NNE
35
NNE
20
NNW
25
WSW
35
SSW
50
S
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off
cross-
off
glasscross-
on
ononcross-
on
onononcross-
off
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
oncrosscross-
off
cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
5:25AM
2.44
5:22PM
2.65
6:08AM
2.57
6:08PM
2.72
6:44AM
2.70
6:47PM
2.78
7:15AM
2.82
7:24PM
2.84
7:46AM
2.90
7:58PM
2.87
8:16AM
2.95
8:32PM
2.88
8:46AM
2.96
Low Tide
/ height (m)
11:06PM
0.61
11:22AM
0.95
11:53PM
0.52
12:09PM
0.80
12:32AM
0.45
12:48PM
0.66
1:06AM
0.41
1:23PM
0.55
1:38AM
0.40
1:56PM
0.46
2:09AM
0.41
2:29PM
0.42
2:41AM
0.46
3:02PM
0.41
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Fri
21
Sunrise-8:03--8:06--8:08--8:11--8:12--8:15--8:18-
Sunset--3:49--3:48--3:45--3:44--3:41--3:41--3:38
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
Rain (mm)
---1-----1-232262---3
Temp. °C888998556677556766768
Feels °C (?)13511-2-8-4-2-1-1-2-7-7-8-6-4-10-3-3
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Bay of Skaill:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Bay of Skaill 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 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.

Nearest
Nearest
Nearest