Birsay Bay Surf Break

Birsay Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 59.13° N 3.33° W

Issued: 12 pm 14 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
11.2° 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 14 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 18 Jun, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, WSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 18 Jun, 4PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 10s period, W swell with 423 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 15 Jun, 4PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s 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 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m 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 1.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jun 18) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jun 17) at 1AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Mon 15th Jun)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s
Best Surf 1PM (Thu 18th Jun)4.5ft (1.4m) 9s
Most Powerful 4PM (Thu 18th Jun)5ft (1.5m) 10s

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 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Mon morning, strong winds from the SE by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Wed night, calm by Fri night).

Sunday
14
Monday
15
Tuesday
16
Wednesday
17
Thursday
18
Friday
19
Saturday
20
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
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
2
1
2
2
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)
1.9
N
8
1.6
N
7
1.2
N
7
0.9
N
6
0.5
W
9
0.4
WSW
10
0.3
WSW
9
0.4
WSW
11
0.6
WSW
11
0.7
WSW
11
0.7
WSW
11
0.7
WSW
10
1.5
WSW
9
1.5
W
10
1.3
WSW
9
1.1
W
9
1
W
9
1.8
WSW
6
1.8
WSW
7
1.3
WSW
6
0.8
WSW
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
403
276
127
65
39
31
17
40
90
128
121
106
307
423
295
194
158
207
285
134
36
Wind (km/h)
30
N
30
N
25
N
10
NNE
10
ENE
25
ESE
35
ESE
40
SE
35
SSE
20
W
5
WSW
20
SSE
25
SW
10
SW
15
S
5
SE
10
ENE
10
S
5
NNW
20
W
35
WSW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
off
off
off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross
High Tide
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
00:57AM3.11m
1:49PM2.56m
1:53AM2.94m
Low Tide
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
6:39PM0.54m
7:26AM0.22m
7:31PM0.71m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
3:59
3:59
3:58
3:58
3:58
3:58
3:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:27
10:28
10:29
10:29
10:30
10:30
10:30
 mm
2
5
2
1
2
Temp °C
10
10
9
9
9
10
10
11
11
12
13
13
14
14
14
12
13
13
13
13
12
Feels °C
4
4
3
6
5
4
3
3
3
8
12
9
11
12
11
11
12
11
13
9
6
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
W
10
1
W
10
0.8
W
9
0.9
N
6
0.7
N
6
0.5
N
6
0.4
NNE
6
0.4
WSW
11
0.6
WSW
11
0.7
WSW
11
0.7
WSW
11
0.7
WSW
6
1.5
WSW
9
1.5
W
10
1.3
WSW
9
1.1
W
9
1
W
9
0.2
N
7
0.2
N
7
0.3
N
8
0.3
WSW
7
Energy kJ
255
190
106
65
39
19
12
40
90
128
121
43
307
423
295
194
158
4
4
11
9
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.4
WSW
10
0.3
WSW
9
0.3
NNE
6
0.4
NNE
8
0.5
NNE
9
0.5
NNE
9
0.7
WSW
10
0.4
NNE
8
0.4
NNE
8
0.3
NNE
7
0.3
NNE
7
0.3
NNE
7
0.1
SE
6
0.1
N
8
0.1
N
11
0.3
NNW
7
Energy kJ
54
39
31
17
7
22
45
44
106
22
20
11
10
10
1
1
2
9
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
NE
10
0.2
ENE
8
0.1
E
8
0.1
W
12
0.1
N
9
0.1
SE
6
0.5
NNE
8
0.1
SE
6
0.1
N
11
0.1
NW
6
0.2
NNE
9
Energy kJ
4
6
1
3
2
1
38
1
2
2
8
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
N
8
1.6
N
7
1.2
N
7
0.3
ESE
2
0.7
ESE
3
0.8
SE
4
1
SE
4
0.8
W
4
0.9
WSW
5
0.4
S
3
1.8
WSW
6
1.8
WSW
7
1.3
WSW
6
0.8
WSW
5
Energy kJ
403
276
127
1
10
20
34
21
45
3
207
285
134
36
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
Distance (km)
218
126
103
29
0
0
157
84
59
58
8
8
55
8
0
0
0
0
0
707
482
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
5
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
8
8
7
5
5
5
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)
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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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