Bay of Skaill Surf Break

Lat Long: 59.05° N 3.34° W

Bay of Skaill Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 26 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Bay of Skaill sea temperature is
13.6°C
0.6° 

Bay of Skaill surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Bay of Skaill surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, N swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, NNW swell with 725 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with N swell.

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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Bay of Skaill in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Sun 30th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 6s
Best Surf 7AM (Sun 30th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 6s
Most Powerful 1AM (Wed 2nd Sep)8ft (2.5m) 8s

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


Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed night, min 13°C on Wed morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun night, min 13°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the SSE by Mon night).

Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
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)
0.6
W
9
0.5
W
8
0.3
W
11
0.6
W
10
0.7
W
9
0.5
W
8
0.3
W
8
0.9
NE
4
0.6
N
6
0.7
N
6
0.6
N
5
0.5
NNW
6
0.7
NNW
7
1.1
N
7
0.8
N
7
0.8
N
8
0.8
N
8
1.1
WSW
7
0.9
W
7
0.6
W
8
2.5
NNW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
54
30
20
67
78
34
11
23
23
35
19
19
41
111
59
72
82
111
86
50
725
Wind (km/h)
30
SE
25
SE
25
SE
25
SE
35
SE
20
ESE
25
ENE
30
NNE
35
NNE
25
N
20
NNE
10
NNW
20
SW
10
SSE
10
SSE
15
WSW
30
W
15
SSW
40
S
45
SW
40
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
8:46PM2.94m
9:12AM2.74m
9:16PM3.09m
9:42AM2.84m
9:46PM3.19m
10:11AM2.90m
10:15PM3.24m
10:41AM2.93m
10:45PM3.23m
11:11AM2.92m
11:18PM3.15m
11:44AM2.86m
11:54PM3.02m
Low Tide
2:36PM0.63m
3:04AM0.35m
3:07PM0.46m
3:35AM0.17m
3:38PM0.34m
4:06AM0.05m
4:10PM0.27m
4:37AM0.01m
4:43PM0.25m
5:09AM0.04m
5:17PM0.29m
5:44AM0.15m
5:54PM0.39m
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:56
6:00
6:01
6:03
6:07
6:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:32
8:30
8:27
8:23
8:21
8:19
8:15
 mm
5
1
1
1
1
Temp °C
14
16
17
15
15
14
14
13
13
13
14
14
14
14
15
13
13
13
15
12
12
Feels °C
9
12
13
11
10
10
10
8
6
9
12
12
12
13
14
10
7
9
8
3
4
  • 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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