Surf Forecasts:
Sandwood Bay surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 11s period, W swell with 596 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with N swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Sandwood Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Sandwood Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sandwood Bay in the next 16 days are 1.6m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sandwood Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here again. Let’s see what’s on the cards for Sandwood Bay over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – the first week is a total dog. There’s a big dry spell on offer before any real surf shows up. The early days have got tiny, weak waves and dodgy winds, so you won’t see me out there.
From the 17th through the 25th, it’s a write-off. We’ve got onshore slop, cross-chop, and swell energy readings staying weak, mostly under 500. There’s a slight pulse of groundswell on the 19th with 1.4m (5 ft) and an 11-second period, but it’s not doing enough. The wind messes it up. It’s just not worth the paddle.
The dry spell finally breaks on Wednesday the 26th. It’s not big – about 1.2m (4 ft) – but there’s a light offshore east wind and it’s clean. The energy is moderate, and the call is for good surf conditions. It’s small, but it’s the first real chance to get wet without fighting a washing machine.
Then we get to Friday the 28th of August. That’s the flag day. We’re looking at a huge NW swell – 4.0m (13 ft) in the morning and a solid 3.0m (10 ft) in the afternoon. The period is 11 seconds and the energy is enormous, reading 3702. But hear me now: this is too big for Sandwood Bay. The call says it plainly. If you’re a pro or a madman, this is your window for a proper tow-in session. For everyone else, this is one to watch from the beach. It’s a week and a half away, so the details might shift, but the signal is there.
The swell backs down after that. Saturday the 29th has 1.7m (6 ft) but the wind is cross-shore and it’s messy. Then Monday the 31st rolls in with a clean, 13-second swell at 2.3m (8 ft). The morning has light offshore wind and it’s clean. The energy is still strong, but a 13-second period can make the sandbanks a bit straight. Still, it’s one of the better sessions in the whole outlook.
Water temp is about normal for the season. Just a heads-up: anything over 2.5m (8 ft) is experts-only, and that 28th is well beyond that line.
So, the plan? Skip the first week. Keep an eye on the 28th for the big show, and mark the 31st for a proper, clean paddle. Everything else is just a tease.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, fresh winds from the ENE by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the WSW by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 9 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 42 | 39 | 25 | 24 | 37 | 596 | 434 | 332 | 272 | 251 | 243 | 248 | 176 | 109 | 101 | 70 | 74 | 121 | 119 | 137 | 259 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 11:09AM4.36m | 11:20PM4.42m | 11:49AM4.12m | 00:01AM4.07m | 12:35PM3.87m | 00:50AM3.74m | 1:34PM3.67m | 2:03AM3.48m | 2:56PM3.56m | 3:45AM3.37m | 4:22PM3.61m | 5:13AM3.49m | 5:28PM3.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:08AM0.64m | 5:15PM1.05m | 5:44AM1.02m | 5:53PM1.40m | 6:22AM1.43m | 6:36PM1.77m | 7:06AM1.84m | 7:30PM2.12m | 8:06AM2.18m | 8:51PM2.34m | 9:42AM2.35m | 10:48PM2.31m | 11:21AM2.26m | 00:04AM2.06m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | |  | | |  | |
 | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:45 | — |
mm | — | — | 9 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 11 | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | W 9 | N 7 | N 7 | N 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | 38 | 39 | 25 | 24 | 32 | 596 | 434 | 332 | 127 | 67 | 63 | 40 | 176 | 109 | 101 | 70 | 50 | 31 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | N 7 | W 8 | W 8 | — | NNE 7 | — | W 18 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | W 16 | WNW 8 | W 8 | NW 5 | W 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 15 | W 15 | W 16 |
| kJ | 42 | 27 | 21 | 11 | — | 18 | — | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | W 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 15 | W 14 | W 7 | W 8 | W 16 | W 17 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 12 | 3 | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 6 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 3 | ESE 3 | SW 4 | WSW 4 | — | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 8 | — | NW 5 | — | NW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | W 8 |
| kJ | — | 5 | 2 | 12 | 37 | — | 44 | 172 | 272 | 251 | 243 | 248 | — | 23 | — | 32 | 74 | 121 | 119 | 137 | 259 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 17 | 17 | 48 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 163 | 255 | 326 | 326 | 930 | 259 | 8 | 289 | 18 | 320 | 209 | 209 | 445 | 18 | 18 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Sandwood Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Sandwood Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Sandwood Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Sandwood 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 (Sandwood 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 Sandwood 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 Scotland - North Coast? If you are looking for accommodation near Sandwood Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Scotland - North Coast, consider staying in Stornoway which is 86 km (53 miles) away. Alternatively, find information about places to stay and car hire in Scrabster which is 89 km (55 miles) away
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