Birsay Bay Surf Break

Birsay Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 59.13° N 3.33° W

Issued: 6 pm 12 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
11.1° 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 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 TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Mon 15th Jun)2.5ft (0.8m) 6s
Best Surf10PM (Wed 17th Jun)2.5ft (0.8m) 10s
Most Powerful10AM (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 Forecast

Light 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 Summary

Light 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
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
W
7
2
W
12
2.4
W
12
2.3
W
12
1.9
W
11
1.2
W
10
1
W
10
0.8
W
9
0.9
N
6
0.8
N
6
0.4
WSW
10
0.4
WSW
9
0.4
WSW
11
0.5
W
10
0.7
WSW
11
0.7
WSW
11
1.4
WSW
6
1.8
WSW
8
1.8
WSW
7
1.6
W
7
0.9
WSW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
324
1218
1665
1505
856
302
190
106
55
47
31
27
40
55
128
121
144
346
365
257
112
Wind (km/h)
35
WSW
30
WSW
30
SW
15
N
20
NW
30
N
25
N
20
N
15
N
10
ENE
25
SE
35
ESE
45
ESE
35
SE
15
W
10
SW
20
SSW
30
SW
25
WSW
15
SE
25
ESE
Wind State
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
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:00
3:59
3:59
3:58
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
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)
0.3
NNW
7
2
W
12
2.4
W
12
2.3
W
12
1.9
W
11
1.2
W
10
1
W
10
0.8
W
9
0.9
N
6
0.8
N
6
0.5
N
7
0.4
NNE
7
0.4
NNE
9
0.5
NNE
9
0.7
WSW
11
0.7
WSW
11
0.8
WSW
10
0.6
W
10
0.4
NNE
8
0.3
NNE
8
0.9
WSW
8
Energy kJ
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)
0.2
W
15
0.3
NNE
9
0.3
NNE
8
0.3
N
7
0.6
NNW
9
0.6
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.4
WSW
10
0.4
WSW
9
0.4
WSW
11
0.5
W
10
0.5
NNE
9
0.5
NNE
9
0.5
NNE
9
0.4
NNE
8
0.1
N
12
0.7
NW
6
Energy kJ
17
16
13
10
56
54
39
31
27
40
55
46
47
45
24
3
35
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
10
0.2
NNW
6
0.2
N
6
0.1
N
6
0.1
NE
8
0.2
W
12
0.2
W
9
0.2
ENE
6
0.2
ENE
5
0.2
E
5
0.2
NNE
8
Energy kJ
2
4
3
1
3
11
6
3
2
2
6
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
W
7
1.1
W
7
1.6
N
7
1.4
N
7
1.1
N
6
0.3
ESE
2
0.8
ESE
4
1.1
SE
4
0.4
SE
4
0.6
WSW
4
1.4
WSW
6
1.8
WSW
8
1.8
WSW
7
1.6
W
7
Energy kJ
324
104
285
189
95
1
17
44
5
10
124
346
365
257
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
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
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
1
3
2
4
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
5
5
4
4
5
9
4
5
5
5
9
7
4
4
4
4
5
4
7
6
  • 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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