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Birsay Bay surfForecast / Scot – Orkney / UK
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
10.0° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)Birsay Bay surf forecast from 2 Jun 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 5 Jun, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 11s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 5 Jun, 1PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 12s period, W swell with 1,141 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 3 Jun, 4AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period with WSW 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 Wednesday (Jun 03) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 3s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Birsay Bay in the next 16 days are 2.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jun 05) 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 Saturday (Jun 06) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Wed 3rd Jun) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 5th Jun) | 6ft (1.9m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 5th Jun) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Birsay Bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Fri morning, min 10°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Fri morning, calm by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 2 | Wednesday 3 | Thursday 4 | Friday 5 | Saturday 6 | Sunday 7 | Monday 8 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | W 15 | W 14 | W 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | W 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | WSW 10 | W 10 | |
77 | 75 | 68 | 107 | 297 | 309 | 228 | 161 | 136 | 802 | 822 | 789 | 614 | 465 | 329 | 249 | 696 | 575 | 338 | 418 | 141 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | on | cross-on | off | off | cross | |
High Tide | 10:37AM2.71m | 10:48PM2.88m | 11:14AM2.61m | 11:26PM2.82m | 11:53AM2.49m | 00:04AM2.74m | 12:35PM2.35m | 00:45AM2.66m | 1:24PM2.25m | 1:31AM2.57m | 2:21PM2.18m | 2:23AM2.51m | 3:24PM2.19m | 3:21AM2.49m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:40PM0.62m | 5:08AM0.52m | 5:15PM0.68m | 5:47AM0.59m | 5:51PM0.76m | 6:29AM0.67m | 6:30PM0.85m | 7:13AM0.73m | 7:13PM0.95m | 8:02AM0.77m | 8:02PM1.04m | 8:57AM0.78m | 9:03PM1.09m | ||||||||
4:09 | — | — | 4:07 | — | — | 4:07 | — | — | 4:05 | — | — | 4:05 | — | — | 4:03 | — | — | 4:03 | — | — | |
— | — | 10:13 | — | — | 10:14 | — | — | 10:15 | — | — | 10:16 | — | — | 10:19 | — | — | 10:20 | — | — | 10:21 | |
— | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | — | 4 | — | |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 4 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | W 14 | W 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 14 | W 11 | W 10 | NNE 10 | W 6 |
77 | 75 | 68 | 47 | 297 | 309 | 228 | 161 | 123 | 802 | 822 | 789 | 614 | 465 | 329 | 249 | 35 | 575 | 338 | 20 | 141 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 9 | N 8 | N 8 | W 15 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 6 | W 14 | NW 5 | NW 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 7 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 11 | — | W 10 |
25 | 35 | 31 | 107 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 136 | 22 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 24 | — | 138 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 18 | NNE 8 | E 6 | E 8 | E 9 | ENE 8 | E 6 | SE 7 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | — | — | — | N 7 | — | N 12 | — | SE 6 | W 9 |
— | — | 6 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | 1 | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 2 | NNE 3 | NNW 3 | — | SE 2 | — | — | NW 5 | WSW 4 | W 6 | — | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SW 3 | W 10 | — | SE 3 | WSW 10 | — |
— | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 66 | 21 | 108 | — | 17 | 17 | 20 | 2 | 696 | — | 9 | 418 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 84 | 103 | 73 | 56 | 0 | 58 | 0 | 19 | 217 | 41 | 403 | 8 | 84 | 58 | 0 | 59 | 331 | 73 | 0 | 119 | 217 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











