Birsay Bay Surf Break

Birsay Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 59.13° N 3.33° W

Issued: 6 pm 01 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Birsay Bay sea temperature is
12.4° 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 1 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 4 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, W swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 3 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, W swell with 1,690 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Saturday (Jul 04) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Birsay Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 03) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 02) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Sat 4th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Best Surf 1PM (Sat 4th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 7PM (Fri 3rd Jul)10ft (3.0m) 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

Heavy rain (total 22mm), heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed night, min 11°C on Thu afternoon). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Thu morning, light winds from the W by Sat morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sat night, light winds from the NNE by Sun night).

Wed
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
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
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
1
2
0
2
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)
0.9
W
8
0.8
W
9
2.4
WNW
6
3
WNW
8
2.2
W
9
2.4
W
9
3
W
10
2.5
W
10
3
W
10
2.5
W
9
1.9
W
9
1.7
W
9
1.4
W
9
1.2
W
9
1
W
9
0.9
W
9
0.9
W
9
1
W
9
1.4
N
8
0.9
W
9
1
W
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
112
109
476
1374
766
856
1520
1489
1549
1044
599
505
327
246
168
133
122
153
252
133
160
Wind (km/h)
20
ESE
25
SSE
50
WNW
50
WNW
40
W
45
WSW
40
WSW
20
SW
30
W
15
W
30
WSW
20
W
15
W
5
NNE
20
ESE
25
E
15
NNE
10
N
15
SE
30
SSE
15
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:37PM2.96m
11:02AM2.64m
11:11PM2.96m
11:37AM2.57m
11:45PM2.93m
12:14PM2.50m
00:19AM2.86m
12:52PM2.43m
00:55AM2.78m
1:36PM2.38m
1:38AM2.69m
2:28PM2.34m
2:30AM2.60m
Low Tide
4:24PM0.56m
4:55AM0.42m
4:58PM0.56m
5:32AM0.42m
5:33PM0.59m
6:09AM0.44m
6:08PM0.65m
6:46AM0.47m
6:46PM0.74m
7:26AM0.53m
7:29PM0.84m
8:12AM0.60m
8:19PM0.94m
9:06AM0.67m
light rain
mod rain
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
light rain
mod rain
part cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:05
4:05
4:07
4:07
4:09
4:11
4:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:29
10:28
10:28
10:27
10:25
10:24
10:23
10:22
 mm
1
7
13
1
2
1
1
1
9
1
Temp °C
12
13
12
12
12
13
13
13
13
13
13
12
12
12
11
10
11
11
11
16
19
Feels °C
9
9
2
2
4
4
5
6
8
11
9
8
9
11
7
5
6
9
7
13
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
W
8
0.8
W
9
0.8
N
6
0.3
N
6
1.7
W
9
1.4
W
9
1.2
W
9
1
W
9
0.9
W
9
0.9
W
9
1
W
9
1.4
N
8
1
N
7
1
W
9
Energy kJ
112
109
53
6
505
327
246
168
133
122
153
252
107
160
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
WSW
12
0.1
N
8
0.4
NNW
7
0.7
NNW
6
0.6
N
6
0.6
N
7
0.9
NNW
9
0.9
NNW
9
0.2
NNW
8
1
W
9
0.9
W
9
0.8
N
7
Energy kJ
29
1
18
31
22
34
143
123
6
164
133
61
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
NNW
10
Energy kJ
10
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSE
3
2.4
WNW
6
3
WNW
8
2.2
W
9
2.4
W
9
3
W
10
2.5
W
10
3
W
10
2.5
W
9
1.9
W
9
0.9
NNW
8
1.2
N
7
Energy kJ
4
476
1374
766
856
1520
1489
1549
1044
599
110
134
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
2
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
Distance (km)
19
58
816
705
447
412
412
53
570
62
62
62
55
8
0
56
29
29
0
53
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Orkney Islands
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
4
1
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
7
5
7
7
5
5
4
7
5
9
7
5
7
9
9
6
8
9
7
7
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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