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Surf Forecasts:

Birsay Bay surfForecast / Scot – Orkney / UK

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 pm Sunday 11 Jan 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
8.8° C
 (Which is slightly warmer than usual)

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 Tuesday (Jan 13) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 12s period. 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 3.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jan 15) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.5m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Jan 18) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (GMT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Tue 13th Jan)13ft (4.0m) 12s
Best Surf 3AM (Tue 13th Jan)13ft (4.0m) 12s
Most Powerful 9PM (Thu 15th Jan)11ft (3.5m) 17s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 10°C on Sun night, min 6°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (gales from the SSW on Mon morning, light winds from the SSW by Mon night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Fri night, min 6°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Thu night, strong winds from the SE by Sat afternoon).

Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sun
18
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
!
0
0
0
2
0
2
!
!
!
0
0
4
2
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.4
W
3.5
SW
4.5
WSW
4
W
3
NW
1.7
NW
2.4
W
3.5
WNW
2.3
W
1.2
WSW
1.3
WNW
3
WNW
3.5
W
3
W
3
W
2.3
W
1.9
W
1.5
W
1
W
1.1
W
0.8
WSW
Period(s) (?)1281112111211101082118171615141312121111
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)5651806441748451941781145624779831871437556875745155368120371252670278302158
Wind
(km/h)
65
SSE
75
SSW
65
SW
30
W
20
S
30
W
45
WNW
35
W
35
S
35
S
20
SW
25
SSW
15
S
25
NE
30
N
30
W
25
SE
35
SSE
45
SE
65
SE
70
SE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
on		cross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
off		cross-
off		crosscross-
on		cross-
on		offoffoffoffoff
High Tide
/ height (m)
3:20AM
2.22
3:37PM
2.29
4:28AM
2.24
4:50PM
2.27
5:31AM
2.33
5:56PM
2.34
6:25AM
2.47
6:50PM
2.46
7:11AM
2.63
7:34PM
2.58
7:50AM
2.79
8:12PM
2.68
8:25AM
2.93
Low Tide
/ height (m)
9:17AM
1.20
10:04PM
1.07
10:43AM
1.19
11:17PM
1.08
11:53AM
1.09
12:14AM
1.00
12:44PM
0.93
12:59AM
0.87
1:26PM
0.76
1:38AM
0.73
2:04PM
0.59
2:12AM
0.59
2:40PM
0.43
Monday
12
Tuesday
13
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sun
18
Sunrise-8:57--8:56--8:56--8:55--8:52--8:52--8:49-
Sunset--3:44--3:45--3:48--3:49--3:52--3:53--3:56
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
clear
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
Rain (mm)
13-1--11--1---131--522
Temp. °C1098876667777777878854
Feels °C (?)-2-6-621-1-4-3-2-11130011-1-2-9-11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Latest Updates

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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.

View detailed surf forecast for Birsay Bay at:
surf-forecast.com

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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 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.

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