Birsay Bay Surf Break

Birsay Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 59.13° N 3.33° W

Issued: 6 am 03 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
12.5° 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 3 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 4 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 3 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, W swell with 1,403 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 10s 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 Saturday (Jul 04) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 10s period. 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 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 03) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 10) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Sat 4th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 10s
Best Surf10AM (Sat 4th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 10s
Most Powerful10PM (Fri 3rd Jul)8ft (2.5m) 10s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Fri night, calm by Sun night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed night, min 10°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
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
3
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
W
9
2.5
W
9
2.5
W
10
2.1
W
10
2
W
10
1.7
W
9
1.6
W
9
1.4
W
9
1.1
W
9
1
W
8
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.9
WSW
8
1.1
N
9
1.1
N
8
1.4
W
8
1.5
W
8
1.4
W
9
1.3
W
10
1.3
W
10
1.3
W
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
621
971
1325
832
730
484
413
306
184
143
140
113
120
189
167
251
295
299
301
320
314
Wind (km/h)
40
WSW
40
WSW
40
WSW
15
SSW
35
W
25
WNW
15
W
10
SW
0
NE
15
NE
10
NE
15
ENE
15
N
15
NNW
15
SSE
30
W
25
W
25
WSW
10
SSW
10
SSW
5
SW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
11:37AM2.57m
11:45PM2.93m
12:14PM2.50m
00:19AM2.86m
12:52PM2.43m
00:55AM2.78m
1:36PM2.38m
1:38AM2.69m
2:28PM2.34m
2:30AM2.60m
3:28PM2.34m
3:35AM2.54m
4:34PM2.39m
Low Tide
5:33PM0.59m
6:09AM0.44m
6:08PM0.65m
6:46AM0.47m
6:46PM0.74m
7:26AM0.53m
7:29PM0.84m
8:12AM0.60m
8:19PM0.94m
9:06AM0.67m
9:22PM1.01m
10:11AM0.73m
10:39PM1.00m
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
cloud
light rain
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
clear
cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:05
4:07
4:07
4:09
4:11
4:11
4:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:28
10:27
10:25
10:24
10:23
10:22
10:21
 mm
2
4
8
1
2
1
Temp °C
12
13
13
12
13
12
12
12
12
11
11
11
11
11
12
13
13
15
17
17
17
Feels °C
5
6
6
9
7
7
8
10
10
8
8
8
7
8
8
8
9
12
16
16
17
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
N
6
0.2
N
5
2.1
W
10
1.7
W
9
1.4
W
9
1.1
W
9
1
W
8
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.9
WSW
8
1.1
N
9
1.1
N
8
1.1
N
9
0.9
N
8
0.6
N
7
1.3
W
10
1.3
W
10
1.3
W
10
Energy kJ
10
2
832
484
306
184
143
140
113
120
189
167
175
104
38
301
320
314
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
5
0.4
N
6
0.4
NNW
6
0.6
NNW
8
0.8
NNW
8
0.8
N
8
0.9
WSW
9
0.9
WSW
9
0.4
N
7
0.3
N
6
0.3
NNE
8
Energy kJ
2
10
11
54
92
72
126
132
14
7
13
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
NNW
9
0.6
N
9
0.2
NNE
10
0.2
NNE
9
Energy kJ
8
64
10
8
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
W
9
2.5
W
9
2.5
W
10
2
W
10
1.4
WNW
9
1.6
W
9
0.3
SE
2
1.4
W
8
1.5
W
8
1.4
W
9
0.3
SSE
2
Energy kJ
621
971
1325
730
300
413
1
251
295
299
1
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
Distance (km)
62
403
53
0
1087
60
55
8
0
29
0
0
29
29
0
102
102
53
0
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
4
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
8
5
4
5
5
9
6
7
6
9
7
5
6
9
9
9
6
5
6
6
  • 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 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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