Birsay Bay Surf Break

Birsay Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 59.13° N 3.33° W

Issued: 12 am 12 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
11.0° 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 12 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 19 Jun, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 13 Jun, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, W swell with 1,820 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 15 Jun, 10PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 10s 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 Monday (Jun 15) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. 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 2.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jun 13) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jun 17) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Mon 15th Jun)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Fri 19th Jun)3ft (0.9m) 10s
Most Powerful 1PM (Sat 13th Jun)8ft (2.5m) 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

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu night, min 9°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Thu night, light winds from the N by Sat afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds.

Friday
12
Saturday
13
Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
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
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
W
7
1.9
W
7
2
W
12
2
W
12
2.4
W
12
1.8
W
11
1.2
W
10
1.6
N
7
1.4
N
6
1
N
6
0.8
N
6
0.5
W
10
0.5
W
9
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
11
0.6
W
12
0.6
W
11
0.6
W
10
0.6
WSW
10
0.6
WSW
10
0.9
WSW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
411
355
1198
1160
1638
755
298
261
163
75
45
48
41
62
59
99
86
73
75
77
180
Wind (km/h)
40
WSW
35
WSW
25
W
35
WSW
20
NW
20
N
30
N
30
NNW
25
N
20
N
15
NNE
15
ESE
25
SE
30
ESE
40
ESE
45
SE
15
SE
25
SW
15
SSW
10
NW
20
SE
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross-off
on
off
High Tide
6:25AM2.76m
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
Low Tide
12:57PM0.42m
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
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:00
4:00
3:59
3:59
3:58
3:58
3:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:25
10:27
10:27
10:28
10:29
10:29
10:30
 mm
2
2
5
1
Temp °C
12
12
12
12
12
12
10
10
9
9
9
9
10
10
11
11
13
14
14
13
14
Feels °C
5
5
6
8
8
9
4
4
3
5
5
5
4
4
3
3
13
11
11
12
12
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NNW
7
0.3
NNW
7
2
W
12
2
W
12
2.4
W
12
1.8
W
11
1.2
W
10
1
W
10
0.8
W
9
0.6
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.6
N
6
0.5
W
9
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
11
0.6
W
12
0.6
W
11
0.6
W
10
0.6
NNE
8
0.6
WSW
10
0.9
WSW
10
Energy kJ
17
9
1198
1160
1638
755
296
190
106
54
39
29
41
62
59
99
86
73
47
77
180
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
W
16
0.2
W
15
0.3
NNE
9
0.3
N
8
0.2
N
8
0.7
NW
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.2
ENE
9
0.5
W
10
0.4
NNE
6
0.4
NNE
6
0.3
NNE
10
0.5
NNE
10
0.5
NNE
9
0.5
NNE
9
0.6
WSW
10
0.5
NNE
8
0.5
NNE
8
Energy kJ
5
17
16
11
5
76
7
8
48
14
14
18
56
50
46
75
39
40
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
10
0.3
NNW
6
0.2
NNE
7
0.1
W
12
0.1
W
12
0.3
NNE
7
0.1
E
8
0.1
E
8
0.1
NE
4
Energy kJ
2
8
5
3
3
9
1
1
1
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
W
7
1.9
W
7
1.7
W
7
0.2
N
7
1.7
N
7
1.6
N
7
1.4
N
6
1
N
6
0.8
N
6
0.4
ESE
3
0.6
ESE
3
1
ESE
4
0.9
ESE
4
0.6
ESE
4
Energy kJ
411
355
258
4
298
261
163
75
45
2
9
32
26
11
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
411
570
509
570
834
961
61
448
126
126
103
29
0
84
84
59
59
68
29
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
2
2
2
3
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
9
5
5
5
4
7
5
9
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
6
5
5
  • 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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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.

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