Birsay Bay Surf Break

Birsay Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 59.13° N 3.33° W

Issued: 12 pm 29 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
12.1° 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: Saturday 4 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 11s period, W swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 6 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, W swell with 7,235 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 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 6s 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 4AM (Sat 4th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 1PM (Mon 6th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 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

Moderate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon night, min 12°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, gales from the WNW by Wed night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Thu morning, light winds from the WNW by Sat night).

Monday
29
Tuesday
30
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
3
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
!
2
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
WSW
12
3
W
12
2
W
11
1.6
W
10
1.4
W
10
1.2
W
9
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.7
W
9
5.5
W
10
4
W
10
3
WNW
9
2.5
W
9
3
W
9
3.5
W
10
3
W
11
2.5
W
10
2.1
W
10
1.6
W
10
3
WSW
8
3.5
W
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2929
2171
924
502
362
225
140
112
83
6107
2698
1331
1184
1380
2600
1897
1495
855
474
889
2074
Wind (km/h)
45
SW
35
WSW
15
SW
15
ESE
5
W
10
WNW
15
W
5
SSE
50
SSE
60
WNW
45
W
30
WSW
40
WSW
45
WSW
35
SW
15
S
25
SSW
15
WNW
15
W
25
W
35
WSW
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
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
00:55AM2.78m
Low Tide
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
6:46PM0.74m
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
part cloud
<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
10:29
10:29
10:28
10:28
10:27
10:25
 mm
1
16
3
3
1
1
Temp °C
13
13
14
12
12
12
12
12
13
13
12
12
12
13
13
14
13
12
13
13
12
Feels °C
4
6
11
9
11
10
10
11
6
3
4
6
3
4
5
11
6
7
11
9
7
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
W
11
1.6
W
10
1.4
W
10
1.2
W
9
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.7
W
9
0.3
N
6
2.1
W
10
1.6
W
10
0.5
NNW
10
0.5
N
9
Energy kJ
924
502
362
225
140
112
83
7
855
474
52
39
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
8
0.1
N
8
0.1
NE
7
0.1
N
7
0.2
W
13
0.3
WSW
12
0.1
N
8
0.4
NNW
11
0.3
NNW
11
Energy kJ
1
1
2
1
14
29
1
44
24
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
7
Energy kJ
1
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
WSW
12
3
W
12
0.4
ESE
3
1.5
S
5
5.5
W
10
4
W
10
3
WNW
9
2.5
W
9
3
W
9
3.5
W
10
3
W
11
2.5
W
10
0.8
SSW
4
3
WSW
8
3.5
W
9
Energy kJ
2929
2171
2
106
6107
2698
1331
1184
1380
2600
1897
1495
22
889
2074
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
3
4
3
1
1
1
2
Distance (km)
480
62
8
0
19
60
73
0
411
639
448
41
62
403
55
19
55
61
55
217
62
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
1
1
1
4
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
3
1
4
4
3
3
3
1
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
5
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
9
5
5
5
7
7
7
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