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Tang Head surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 12 pm Thursday 14 May 2026 BSTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Tang Head surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Tang Head sea temperature is
8.6° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Tang Head this week:
The surf forecast for Tang Head over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Tang Head in the next 16 days are 1.6m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Monday (May 18) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 17th May) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sun 17th May) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 17th May) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tang Head over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Mild temperatures (max 8°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Thu night, light winds from the NW by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 12°C on Tue night, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Tue morning, calm by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 14 | Friday 15 | Saturday 16 | Sunday 17 | Monday 18 | Tuesday 19 | Wednesday 20 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
NNW 10 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 14 | W 12 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 15 | W 13 | |
838 | 306 | 440 | 465 | 293 | 88 | 26 | 41 | 107 | 784 | 905 | 633 | 472 | 350 | 238 | 125 | 90 | 41 | 22 | 150 | 167 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | |
High Tide | 7:41PM2.88m | 7:43AM3.08m | 8:20PM3.06m | 8:30AM3.21m | 9:00PM3.19m | 9:18AM3.26m | 9:42PM3.26m | 10:08AM3.23m | 10:27PM3.26m | 11:01AM3.09m | 11:15PM3.19m | 11:59AM2.90m | 00:10AM3.08m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:34PM0.18m | 1:54AM0.46m | 2:18PM0.03m | 2:39AM0.23m | 3:02PM-0.04m | 3:24AM0.05m | 3:46PM-0.02m | 4:10AM-0.04m | 4:31PM0.08m | 4:57AM-0.05m | 5:17PM0.24m | 5:48AM0.04m | 6:05PM0.45m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | 4:48 | — | — | 4:45 | — | — | 4:43 | — | — | 4:41 | — | — | 4:39 | — | — | 4:37 | — | — | 4:35 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:34 | — | — | 9:36 | — | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:39 | — | — | 9:42 | — | — | 9:44 |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
-2 | -2 | -3 | -3 | -2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NE 11 | NE 12 | NE 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | W 12 | W 13 | W 13 | W 13 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | ESE 6 | E 8 | W 15 | W 13 |
 kJ | 116 | 166 | 55 | 35 | 37 | 20 | 19 | 31 | 104 | 784 | 905 | 633 | 472 | 350 | 238 | 125 | 90 | 20 | 31 | 150 | 167 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 9 | NE 6 | NNW 5 | W 14 | SE 4 | NE 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 10 | N 9 | E 7 | W 15 | W 9 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | WNW 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | 11 | 107 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 41 | 28 | 34 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 16 | WNW 14 | WNW 8 | W 5 | W 7 | — | — | — | — | W 15 | N 8 | W 13 | WNW 8 | — | W 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 41 | 21 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 14 | 22 | — | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 10 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | — | SE 3 | SW 3 | SSE 4 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | W 4 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 838 | 306 | 440 | 465 | 293 | 88 | 26 | — | 2 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 36 | 67 | 36 | 36 | 32 | — | — | 30 | 16 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 895 | 507 | 595 | 508 | 237 | 69 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 181 | 58 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 5 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Tang Head surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
Information about the Tang Head Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Tang Head provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Tang Head can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Tang Head 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 (Tang Head) 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 Tang Head 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 Tang Head, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Scotland - North Coast, consider staying in Scrabster which is 17 km (11 miles) away. Other places in and around Scotland - North Coast where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Wick which is 26 km (16 miles) away and Kirkwall, 40 km (25 miles) away.
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