Surf Forecasts:
Birsay Bay surf forecast from 12 Jun 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 17 Jun, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 13 Jun, 10AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 12s period, W swell with 1,665 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 15 Jun, 4PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period with N 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 Monday (Jun 15) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. 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 2.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jun 13) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jun 20) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4PM (Mon 15th Jun) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Wed 17th Jun) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 13th Jun) | 8ft (2.4m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Birsay Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed night, min 8°C on Mon afternoon). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fri 12 | Saturday 13 | Sunday 14 | Monday 15 | Tuesday 16 | Wednesday 17 | Thursday 18 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | N 6 | N 6 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 11 | W 10 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | W 7 | WSW 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
324 | 1218 | 1665 | 1505 | 856 | 302 | 190 | 106 | 55 | 47 | 31 | 27 | 40 | 55 | 128 | 121 | 144 | 346 | 365 | 257 | 112 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off | off |
High Tide | 7:08PM2.77m | 7:23AM2.92m | 7:57PM2.95m | 8:18AM3.04m | 8:45PM3.11m | 9:13AM3.12m | 9:33PM3.23m | 10:07AM3.11m | 10:22PM3.30m | 11:00AM3.03m | 11:12PM3.30m | 11:55AM2.89m | 00:04AM3.23m | 12:51PM2.73m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:23AM0.58m | 1:50PM0.31m | 2:16AM0.35m | 2:40PM0.23m | 3:07AM0.15m | 3:29PM0.20m | 3:57AM0.01m | 4:16PM0.22m | 4:48AM-0.05m | 5:03PM0.28m | 5:40AM-0.03m | 5:51PM0.40m | 6:32AM0.07m | ||||||||
— | — | 4:00 | — | — | 3:59 | — | — | 3:59 | — | — | 3:58 | — | — | 3:58 | — | — | 3:58 | — | — | 3:58 | |
— | 10:25 | — | — | 10:27 | — | — | 10:27 | — | — | 10:28 | — | — | 10:29 | — | — | 10:29 | — | — | 10:30 | 10:30 | |
mm | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | W 12 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | N 6 | N 6 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | W 10 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | WSW 8 |
9 | 1218 | 1665 | 1505 | 856 | 302 | 190 | 106 | 55 | 47 | 22 | 16 | 32 | 49 | 128 | 121 | 144 | 74 | 22 | 13 | 112 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 15 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | N 7 | NNW 9 | — | — | — | W 9 | W 9 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 11 | W 10 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | — | N 12 | NW 6 |
17 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 56 | — | — | — | 54 | 39 | 31 | 27 | 40 | 55 | 46 | 47 | 45 | 24 | — | 3 | 35 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | NNW 6 | N 6 | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | NE 8 | — | W 12 | W 9 | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | E 5 | — | — | — | — | NNE 8 |
2 | 4 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | W 7 | — | — | — | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | — | — | ESE 2 | ESE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | — | WSW 4 | WSW 6 | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | W 7 | — |
324 | 104 | — | — | — | 285 | 189 | 95 | — | — | 1 | 17 | 44 | 5 | — | 10 | 124 | 346 | 365 | 257 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 510 | 593 | 834 | 61 | 61 | 103 | 103 | 103 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 157 | 84 | 68 | 41 | 8 | 19 | 55 | 53 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











