Bay of Skaill surfForecast / Scot – Orkney / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Thursday 11 Dec 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
10.2° C
(Which is slightly warmer than usual)


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 Friday (Dec 12) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bay of Skaill in the next 12 days are 8.5m 21s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Dec 18) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 6s period and expected on Friday (Dec 19) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Fri 12th Dec)11ft (3.5m) 17s
Best Surf 3AM (Fri 12th Dec)11ft (3.5m) 17s
Most Powerful 6AM (Thu 18th Dec)28ft (8.5m) 21s

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 Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Thu night, severe gales from the WSW by Sun morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun night, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Sun night, near gales from the S by Tue night).

Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
Thu
18
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
!
!
!
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0
0
!
0
!
!
0
!
!
!
!
0
0
0
!
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Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
3
W
3.5
W
4.5
W
4
W
5
W
4
W
5
W
3
W
4
W
4
W
3.5
W
4
W
3.5
W
5
W
4
W
3
W
2.3
W
3
W
4.5
W
8.5
W
8
WNW
Period(s) (?)171617171615141313141414161415141313142120
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)6103717310495987913870778890253406549461204700596461109372712740531726290471846045147270
Wind
(km/h)
25
W
25
S
25
SSW
40
SSW
45
SSW
55
S
55
SW
35
SSE
50
WSW
30
ESE
45
S
50
WSW
35
SW
40
WSW
40
SW
40
S
50
S
50
SW
60
SSW
75
SW
70
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
offcrosscross-
off
offcrosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
2:24AM
2.28
2:25PM
2.59
3:30AM
2.26
3:31PM
2.49
4:31AM
2.32
4:34PM
2.46
5:23AM
2.42
5:30PM
2.48
6:08AM
2.53
6:19PM
2.55
6:47AM
2.65
7:03PM
2.63
7:24AM
2.76
Low Tide
/ height (m)
8:00AM
1.06
9:02PM
0.72
9:16AM
1.13
10:09PM
0.78
10:31AM
1.09
11:07PM
0.78
11:32AM
1.00
11:55PM
0.76
12:20PM
0.87
12:37AM
0.72
1:01PM
0.75
1:15AM
0.67
1:39PM
0.63
Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
Thu
18
Sunrise-8:56--8:57--9:00--9:00--9:02--9:03--9:03-
Sunset--3:15--3:15--3:15--3:15--3:15--3:15--3:15
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
clear
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
4----5-4-4-----2111--
Temp. °C109998121212101212999881011999
Feels °C (?)5320-2-30-3-143-220-1000-2-7-6
  • 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

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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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