
Birsay Bay Surf Forecast / Scot – Orkney / UK
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Birsay Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Birsay Bay over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Apr 11) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 2s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Birsay Bay in the next 12 days are 2.2m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Apr 11) at 1AM. 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 Thursday (Apr 15) at 10PM.
Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
---|---|---|
Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sun 11th Apr) | 7ft (2.2m) 12s |
Best Surf | 10PM (Mon 12th Apr) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 11th Apr) | 7ft (2.2m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Birsay Bay over the next 12 days.
Rating (10 max) |
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Swell Height Map |
Wave Height (m) & direction (?) |
Period(s) (?) |
Wave (?)Graph ![]() |
Energy (?) |
Wind (km/h) |
Wind State (?) onshore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore offshore glassy |
High Tide / height (m) |
Low Tide / height (m) |
Summary |
Rain (mm) |
High °C |
Low °C |
Chill °C (?) |
Sunrise |
Sunset |
Sat 10 | Sunday 11 | Monday 12 | Tuesday 13 | Wednesday 14 | Thursday 15 | Friday 16 | Saturday 17 | Sunday 18 | Monday 19 | Tuesday 20 | Wednesday 21 | Thu 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | NW | NNW | NNW | WNW | W | W | WNW | W | W | W | W | W | WNW | WNW | WNW | WNW | WNW | WNW | W | WNW | NNW | NNW |
12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
1942 | 1392 | 701 | 498 | 229 | 784 | 646 | 464 | 311 | 295 | 240 | 138 | 75 | 45 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 18 | 22 | 38 | 148 | 139 | 127 | 141 | 800 | 1172 | 1090 | 699 | 467 | 221 | 501 | 1355 | 12017 | 8815 |
NNW | N | N | NNW | N | N | NNW | WNW | SSE | SSE | SE | SW | NNE | ENE | SE | SSE | SSE | SSE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SSE | SE | SSE | SSE | SE | SSE | SSE | SSE | SSE | SSE | E | NNW | NW |
on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | cross- on | glass | cross- off | cross- off | off | cross | cross- on | glass | off | off | cross- off | cross- off | off | off | off | off | off | cross- off | off | off | cross- off | off | cross- off | cross- off | off | cross- off | off | cross- off | on | on |
9:07PM 2.95 | 9:11AM 3.15 | 9:36PM 3.02 | 9:42AM 3.18 | 10:05PM 3.05 | 10:13AM 3.15 | 10:33PM 3.04 | 10:44AM 3.07 | 11:01PM 2.97 | 11:15AM 2.93 | 11:31PM 2.86 | 11:48AM 2.75 | 12:02AM 2.71 | 12:23PM 2.55 | 12:37AM 2.54 | 1:03PM 2.34 | 1:22AM 2.37 | 1:59PM 2.15 | 2:28AM 2.24 | 3:27PM 2.05 | 3:59AM 2.22 | 5:06PM 2.12 | 5:22AM 2.36 | |||||||||||||
3:05AM 0.44 | 3:27PM 0.16 | 3:36AM 0.36 | 3:56PM 0.15 | 4:06AM 0.33 | 4:25PM 0.21 | 4:37AM 0.34 | 4:54PM 0.32 | 5:08AM 0.41 | 5:23PM 0.47 | 5:40AM 0.53 | 5:54PM 0.66 | 6:14AM 0.70 | 6:27PM 0.85 | 6:54AM 0.88 | 7:07PM 1.04 | 7:46AM 1.06 | 8:04PM 1.21 | 9:05AM 1.17 | 9:31PM 1.29 | 10:43AM 1.11 | 11:06PM 1.23 | 11:57AM 0.89 | |||||||||||||
Note: the tide data above is for Bay of Skaill which is 8 km away. Surf properties and timing are calculated for Birsay Bay.New forecast is published every 6 hours at www.surf-forecast.com. See detailed tide info and graph | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 10 | Sunday 11 | Monday 12 | Tuesday 13 | Wednesday 14 | Thursday 15 | Friday 16 | Saturday 17 | Sunday 18 | Monday 19 | Tuesday 20 | Wednesday 21 | Thu 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM |
some clouds | light rain | rain shwrs | clear | rain shwrs | clear | clear | some clouds | cloudy | light rain | rain shwrs | some clouds | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | cloudy | cloudy | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | some clouds | some clouds | light rain | light rain | cloudy | some clouds | mod. rain | cloudy |
- | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | - | - | 8 | - |
3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 |
-2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | -2 | -2 |
- | - | 6:09 | - | - | 6:07 | - | - | 6:03 | - | - | 6:01 | - | - | 5:58 | - | - | 5:56 | - | - | 5:52 | - | - | 5:50 | - | - | 5:47 | - | - | 5:43 | - | - | 5:41 | - | - | 5:39 |
8:16 | - | - | 8:19 | - | - | 8:22 | - | - | 8:23 | - | - | 8:25 | - | - | 8:29 | - | - | 8:30 | - | - | 8:32 | - | - | 8:36 | - | - | 8:37 | - | - | 8:40 | - | - | 8:43 | - | - |
Short Range Forecast: Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Temperatures will be slightly above freezing (max 4°C on Sun afternoon, min 2°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Tue night, min 3°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 6-9 Weather Summary Mostly dry. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Sun night, min 5°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Long Range Forecast: Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed night. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Mon afternoon, min 4°C on Wed night). Mainly severe gales. |
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View detailed surf forecast for Birsay Bay at:
surf-forecast.com
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 12 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.
Kudos to everyone who helped us debug this over the past 3 months.
Be sure to click on the Advanced Surf option to see extra details about the sea-state. Look out for crossing swells and short period local wind swells and chop that will often spoil a groundswell even if the wind is perfect. As yet there is no allowance for this in the swell rating. This is something we are working on.