Birsay Bay Surf Break

Birsay Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 59.13° N 3.33° W

Issued: 6 pm 27 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
11.9° C

Slightly warmer than usual

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


Birsay Bay surf forecast from 28 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 29 Jun, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 3 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, W swell with 8,788 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 28 Jun, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 7s period with W swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Birsay Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Birsay Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jun 28) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Birsay Bay in the next 16 days are 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 03) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 02) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Sun 28th Jun)4.5ft (1.3m) 7s
Best Surf 1AM (Mon 29th Jun)10ft (3.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 1AM (Fri 3rd Jul)18ft (5.5m) 12s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun night, light winds from the ESE by Tue morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue afternoon, strong winds from the WSW by Fri morning).

Sat
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
2
!
0
0
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
W
9
1
W
8
1.3
W
9
1.3
W
7
3
W
13
3.5
W
12
3
W
12
2.3
W
11
1.7
W
10
1.5
W
10
1.2
W
9
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.8
W
8
0.6
W
9
1.7
SW
9
5.5
W
12
5
W
12
3.5
W
11
3.5
W
10
3
W
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
153
132
251
166
3150
3337
2340
1212
569
415
230
140
111
88
56
502
8788
6121
3450
2657
1724
Wind (km/h)
20
SSE
25
SSE
30
WSW
15
SSW
40
SSW
45
SW
35
WSW
15
SSW
10
ESE
0
NNW
10
NNW
5
WNW
10
ESE
15
ESE
5
NE
20
NW
35
WNW
40
WSW
45
WSW
45
WSW
50
SW
Wind State
off
off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
off
off
cross
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
High Tide
8:08PM2.68m
8:30AM2.62m
8:47PM2.78m
9:11AM2.67m
9:25PM2.86m
9:49AM2.70m
10:02PM2.93m
10:26AM2.69m
10:37PM2.96m
11:02AM2.64m
11:11PM2.96m
11:37AM2.57m
11:45PM2.93m
12:14PM2.50m
Low Tide
2:26AM0.71m
2:39PM0.71m
3:04AM0.61m
3:15PM0.65m
3:42AM0.52m
3:50PM0.59m
4:19AM0.46m
4:24PM0.56m
4:55AM0.42m
4:58PM0.56m
5:32AM0.42m
5:33PM0.59m
6:09AM0.44m
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:01
4:01
4:03
4:03
4:05
4:05
4:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:30
10:30
10:30
10:29
10:29
10:28
10:28
10:27
 mm
3
8
2
1
1
2
Temp °C
17
17
13
15
14
13
13
14
14
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
14
14
Feels °C
15
14
8
11
7
5
6
11
12
12
9
11
11
9
11
8
7
3
3
6
5
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
W
9
1
W
8
0.1
N
6
1.3
W
7
3
W
13
2.3
W
11
1.7
W
10
1.5
W
10
1.2
W
9
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.8
W
8
0.6
W
9
0.3
WNW
12
Energy kJ
153
132
1
166
3150
1212
569
415
230
140
111
88
56
29
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
4
0.1
NE
5
0.1
W
12
0.6
W
11
0.1
N
8
0.1
N
8
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
7
0.1
W
13
0.2
WSW
12
0.4
WSW
10
0.4
NW
8
0.1
N
7
Energy kJ
1
1
3
83
1
1
1
1
3
15
34
16
1
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
7
0.1
W
17
0.1
N
6
0.1
N
6
0.1
N
7
0.2
WNW
10
0.2
WNW
12
Energy kJ
1
6
1
1
1
10
15
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
3
1.3
W
9
0.8
SSW
4
3.5
W
12
3
W
12
0.3
SSE
3
0.3
SSE
2
1.1
S
4
1.7
SW
9
5.5
W
12
5
W
12
3.5
W
11
3.5
W
10
3
W
10
Energy kJ
5
251
15
3337
2340
2
1
43
502
8788
6121
3450
2657
1724
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
2
4
Distance (km)
0
0
43
0
480
480
62
0
0
0
29
0
0
0
29
262
570
217
217
471
707
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
2
2
4
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
8
9
9
7
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
9
7
5
6
5
4
5
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 Birsay Bay Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Birsay Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Birsay Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Birsay Bay 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 (Birsay Bay) 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 Birsay Bay 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 Birsay Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Orkney Islands, consider staying in Kirkwall which is 26 km (16 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 58 km (36 miles) away and Wick, 79 km (49 miles) away.

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