Birsay Bay Surf Break

Birsay Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 59.13° N 3.33° W

Issued: 6 pm 28 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
12.0° 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 29 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 3 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 29 Jun, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 12s period, WSW swell with 3,415 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 30 Jun, 4AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s 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 Tuesday (Jun 30) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Birsay Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jun 29) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 02) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Tue 30th Jun)6ft (1.9m) 11s
Best Surf 7PM (Fri 3rd Jul)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 7AM (Mon 29th Jun)11ft (3.5m) 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

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun night, calm by Tue morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 31mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri night, min 11°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, near gales from the SW by Fri night).

Sun
28
Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
!
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
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)
1.4
W
7
3
WSW
13
3.5
WSW
12
3
W
12
2.1
W
11
1.6
W
10
1.4
W
10
1.2
W
9
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.8
W
9
1.3
WNW
10
4
WNW
9
3
W
9
4
W
9
4
W
10
3
W
11
2.3
W
10
2.5
WNW
11
2.5
W
12
1.8
W
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
187
2995
3072
2171
999
492
354
225
138
112
109
339
2403
1499
2779
2906
2137
1039
1692
1848
730
Wind (km/h)
15
SW
40
SSW
45
SW
35
WSW
15
S
15
SE
15
WNW
15
NW
10
WNW
5
WNW
30
SE
55
WNW
45
WNW
45
WSW
50
WSW
50
WSW
40
NNW
35
WNW
30
W
30
WSW
55
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
off
on
on
on
glassy
off
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross
High Tide
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
00:19AM2.86m
12:52PM2.43m
Low Tide
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
6:08PM0.65m
6:46AM0.47m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
heavy rain
mod rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:01
4:03
4:03
4:05
4:05
4:07
4:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:30
10:30
10:29
10:29
10:28
10:28
10:27
10:25
 mm
15
3
13
13
7
Temp °C
15
14
12
13
14
13
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
13
14
12
12
12
14
Feels °C
11
6
2
6
11
11
10
9
10
11
8
2
3
4
2
4
4
6
6
6
4
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
W
7
3
WSW
13
2.1
W
11
1.6
W
10
1.4
W
10
1.2
W
9
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.8
W
9
0.4
WSW
10
0.8
N
6
2.3
WNW
11
2.3
W
10
1.1
N
7
1.8
W
11
Energy kJ
187
2995
999
492
354
225
138
112
109
33
54
1167
1039
134
730
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
W
11
0.1
N
8
0.1
N
8
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
7
0.2
W
13
0.3
WSW
12
0.1
NW
11
0.3
S
4
0.9
NNW
8
Energy kJ
83
1
1
1
1
14
29
5
3
94
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
6
0.1
N
7
0.1
N
8
Energy kJ
1
1
1
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
WSW
12
3
W
12
0.4
SE
3
0.6
SE
3
1.3
WNW
10
4
WNW
9
3
W
9
4
W
9
4
W
10
3
W
11
1.8
NNW
6
2.5
WNW
11
2.5
W
12
Energy kJ
3072
2171
3
6
339
2403
1499
2779
2906
2137
244
1692
1848
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
2
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
4
1
3
3
Distance (km)
8
480
480
344
8
0
55
60
55
0
56
626
752
204
470
598
871
698
705
55
331
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
4
3
2
2
2
3
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
4
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
7
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
8
6
5
5
6
7
5
5
9
9
9
  • 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
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Birsay Bay:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Birsay Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest