Bay of Skaill surfForecast / Scot – Orkney / UK

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 am Friday 22 May 2026 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
9.1° 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 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (May 22) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bay of Skaill in the next 16 days are 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 26) 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 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (May 28) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Fri 22nd May)2.5ft (0.8m) 10s
Best Surf10AM (Wed 27th May)5ft (1.6m) 10s
Most Powerful 1PM (Tue 26th May)10ft (3.0m) 12s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the SW by Sun afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun night, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning).

Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
2
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
W
10
0.6
W
10
1
W
6
1.6
WSW
6
1.8
WSW
6
1.6
WSW
7
1.7
W
9
1.5
W
10
1.6
WSW
8
2.3
W
13
2.1
W
13
2.2
W
12
3
W
12
2.5
W
12
2.2
WNW
11
1.6
WNW
10
1.3
W
10
1
W
10
0.7
W
9
0.6
W
9
0.3
W
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
130
73
77
154
282
292
463
414
324
1821
1442
1355
2092
1989
1046
512
313
183
78
56
12
Wind (km/h)
15
SSE
20
WNW
10
S
40
WSW
40
WSW
25
SW
20
WSW
10
SW
25
SW
35
WSW
40
WSW
40
WSW
40
W
35
W
20
WNW
0
WSW
10
ESE
5
ENE
15
ESE
25
ESE
30
SE
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
2:12PM2.47m
2:20AM2.79m
3:28PM2.36m
3:32AM2.69m
4:40PM2.35m
4:41AM2.65m
5:43PM2.41m
5:43AM2.64m
6:35PM2.52m
6:37AM2.66m
7:18PM2.63m
7:25AM2.70m
7:56PM2.73m
Low Tide
7:45AM0.40m
7:56PM0.88m
8:55AM0.53m
9:07PM1.01m
10:11AM0.59m
10:26PM1.04m
11:21AM0.59m
11:38PM0.98m
12:18PM0.55m
00:37AM0.86m
1:05PM0.53m
1:25AM0.74m
1:45PM0.51m
2:06AM0.64m
part cloud
cloud
heavy rain
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:28
4:26
4:24
4:22
4:20
4:18
4:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:52
9:53
9:55
9:58
10:00
10:01
10:04
12
2
Temp °C
18
13
13
12
14
13
13
12
15
12
13
11
9
9
9
9
10
10
9
10
11
14
9
11
5
7
7
10
11
11
5
6
4
1
2
4
8
7
7
4
4
8
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
W
10
0.6
W
10
1
W
6
0.1
SE
6
0.3
W
10
1.6
WSW
7
1.7
W
9
1.5
W
10
0.4
WNW
16
1.4
W
13
1.3
W
12
2.2
WNW
11
1.6
WNW
10
1.3
W
10
1
W
10
0.7
W
9
0.6
W
9
0.3
W
8
Energy kJ
130
73
76
1
19
292
463
414
84
653
480
1046
512
313
183
78
56
12
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
6
0.6
W
10
0.1
N
6
0.1
SE
6
0.1
SE
6
0.1
SE
6
0.6
W
10
0.1
N
7
0.1
W
19
0.5
N
6
0.5
N
7
0.4
NNW
7
0.3
N
6
0.2
N
6
Energy kJ
1
1
77
1
1
1
1
70
1
7
19
24
15
7
3
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
7
0.1
SE
5
0.1
SE
5
0.1
W
19
0.2
NNW
9
0.1
W
18
0.1
N
8
0.2
N
7
Energy kJ
1
1
1
7
8
6
1
4
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
2
0.6
W
5
1.6
WSW
6
1.8
WSW
6
0.2
SSE
4
1.6
WSW
8
2.3
W
13
2.1
W
13
2.2
W
12
3
W
12
2.5
W
12
0.2
ESE
2
0.2
ESE
2
0.4
SE
3
0.6
SE
4
0.8
SE
4
Energy kJ
1
20
154
282
1
324
1821
1442
1355
2092
1989
1
1
2
10
24
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
3
2
3
2
2
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
Distance (km)
0
66
0
395
395
50
47
0
47
45
54
474
336
336
51
0
0
8
8
8
66
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
3
2
2
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
6
5
4
8
5
6
5
5
4
4
4
6
5
6
9
6
5
9
7
7
  • 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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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 16 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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