Birsay Bay surfForecast / Scot – Orkney / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Friday 14 Nov 2025 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
11.9° C
(Which is 1.5°C warmer than 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 (Nov 15) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Birsay Bay in the next 12 days are 3.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Nov 19) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Nov 16) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Sat 15th Nov)5ft (1.5m) 11s
Best Surf12PM (Sat 15th Nov)5ft (1.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 3AM (Wed 19th Nov)11ft (3.5m) 11s

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 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Sat night, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Sat afternoon, near gales from the N by Sun night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 7°C on Thu morning, min 4°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Mon night, strong winds from the N by Wed afternoon).

Fri
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
PMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
2
N
1.8
N
1.6
N
1.4
N
1.2
N
1.7
NNW
1.9
NNW
3.5
N
3
N
2.5
N
2.5
N
2.3
N
3
N
3.5
N
3.5
N
3.5
N
3
N
3
N
2.5
N
1.8
N
1.1
N
Period(s) (?)101011111091091011121112111010101010109
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)776679628449277474657213017481641182513242299301625672240189218491250625198
Wind
(km/h)
30
NE
25
ENE
15
E
5
NNE
30
NW
35
N
40
NNW
50
N
40
NNW
35
NNW
30
NNW
20
NE
35
NNE
45
N
45
N
45
N
45
N
40
NNE
25
NNE
10
WSW
35
S
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
crosscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
on
oncross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
oncross-
on
crosscrosscross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
cross-
on
crosscross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
4:26PM
2.59
5:25AM
2.44
5:22PM
2.65
6:08AM
2.57
6:08PM
2.72
6:44AM
2.70
6:47PM
2.78
7:15AM
2.82
7:24PM
2.84
7:46AM
2.90
7:58PM
2.87
8:16AM
2.95
8:32PM
2.88
8:46AM
2.96
Low Tide
/ height (m)
11:06PM
0.61
11:22AM
0.95
11:53PM
0.52
12:09PM
0.80
12:32AM
0.45
12:48PM
0.66
1:06AM
0.41
1:23PM
0.55
1:38AM
0.40
1:56PM
0.46
2:09AM
0.41
2:29PM
0.42
2:41AM
0.46
Fri
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Sunrise--8:03--8:07--8:08--8:11--8:14--8:15--8:18
Sunset3:52--3:49--3:48--3:45--3:44--3:41--3:40--
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
cloud
cloud
Rain (mm)
----1---1-22-423521--
Temp. °C788799865666655567776
Feels °C (?)-213410-2-5-5-3-3-2-4-7-7-7-6-3-13-3
  • 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
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
Nearest
Nearest