Birsay Bay surfForecast / Scot – Orkney / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Wednesday 25 Feb 2026 GMT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Birsay Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
7.1° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

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 Saturday (Feb 28) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 3.5m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Birsay Bay in the next 12 days are 6.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Mar 05) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Monday (Mar 02) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Sat 28th Feb)15ft (4.5m) 13s
Best Surf 3AM (Sat 28th Feb)15ft (4.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 3AM (Thu 5th Mar)20ft (6.0m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Birsay Bay over the next 12 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SW on Thu night, light winds from the SSW by Sat afternoon).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSE on Sat night, near gales from the SSE by Sun night).

Thursday
26
Friday
27
Saturday
28
Sunday
01
Monday
02
Tuesday
03
Wed
04
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
1
0
0
0
0
!
!
!
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.6
W
1.3
W
1.3
WNW
3
WSW
4
W
4
W
4.5
WNW
4
WNW
3
W
3
W
2.1
W
1.7
W
1.4
W
1.2
W
1.7
W
2.1
W
1.9
W
2.5
W
3
W
4
W
4.5
W
Period(s) (?)15141181112131313131211121212131412111214
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)112967838712453625473765285880320029661236739555404898151013092079190441037344
Wind
(km/h)
30
WSW
20
SSE
30
SSW
50
SW
45
W
40
W
35
WSW
30
SW
15
SSW
20
SSE
40
SSE
55
SSE
55
SSE
45
S
35
S
45
WSW
40
SSW
40
S
50
SSW
45
WSW
45
SW
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
offoffcross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
cross
High Tide
/ height (m)
3:21AM
2.33
4:23PM
2.33
4:57AM
2.44
5:52PM
2.47
6:09AM
2.69
6:54PM
2.66
7:03AM
2.95
7:41PM
2.84
7:46AM
3.18
8:21PM
2.97
8:25AM
3.33
8:57PM
3.04
9:01AM
3.39
Low Tide
/ height (m)
9:54AM
0.99
10:43PM
1.07
11:31AM
0.80
12:00AM
0.89
12:37PM
0.50
12:54AM
0.65
1:26PM
0.22
1:38AM
0.44
2:08PM
0.00
2:17AM
0.27
2:46PM
-0.13
2:53AM
0.17
3:21PM
-0.15
Thursday
26
Friday
27
Saturday
28
Sunday
01
Monday
02
Tuesday
03
Wed
04
Sunrise-7:18--7:16--7:13--7:11--7:07--7:05--7:03-
Sunset--5:32--5:36--5:37--5:39--5:43--5:45--5:47
rain showers
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
Rain (mm)
212---2-----31----5--
Temp. °C889866656667889789866
Feels °C (?)41-1-4-5-5-3-31-2-3-5-4-21-400-4-5-4
  • 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

Latest Updates

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 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest