Surf Forecasts:
Tang Head surf forecast from 17 Oct 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 18 Oct, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, WNW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 19 Oct, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, WNW swell with 3,040 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 18 Oct, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s period with WNW swell.
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 (Oct 18) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Oct 19) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 10s period and expected on Friday (Oct 23) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sun 18th Oct) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 18th Oct) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Mon 19th Oct) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Tang Head over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 12°C on Mon night, min 8°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat night, strong winds from the SE by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Wed night). Mainly gales. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 17 | Sunday 18 | Monday 19 | Tuesday 20 | Wednesday 21 | Thursday 22 | Friday 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) | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 13 | WNW 16 | WNW 16 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 608 | 494 | 394 | 236 | 300 | 1138 | 499 | 2723 | 2577 | 1496 | 1162 | 811 | 786 | 929 | 1144 | 794 | 1128 | 561 | 286 | 231 | 195 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off |
High Tide | 1:04PM2.43m | 2:02AM2.14m | 2:24PM2.28m | 3:41AM2.04m | 3:59PM2.25m | 5:08AM2.09m | 5:12PM2.35m | 6:09AM2.24m | 6:06PM2.51m | 6:54AM2.43m | 6:48PM2.69m | 7:30AM2.64m | 7:25PM2.88m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:32PM1.03m | 7:43AM1.26m | 8:42PM1.19m | 8:58AM1.38m | 10:26PM1.18m | 10:44AM1.35m | 11:50PM0.99m | 12:00PM1.18m | 00:38AM0.73m | 12:48PM0.95m | 1:16AM0.47m | 1:28PM0.71m | 1:52AM0.23m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | 7:52 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:03 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — |
 | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:46 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 13 | W 13 | WNW 16 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | ESE 7 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 11 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 155 | 494 | 394 | 236 | 300 | 1138 | 488 | 2723 | 2577 | 1496 | 1162 | 811 | 786 | 929 | 1144 | 794 | 28 | 561 | 286 | 231 | 1064 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 13 | NNW 12 | N 12 | NNW 11 | WNW 17 | N 12 | WNW 16 | ESE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 9 | ESE 8 | E 9 | SE 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | W 11 |
| kJ | 7 | 113 | 71 | 25 | 92 | 11 | 499 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 125 | 64 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 195 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | N 12 | N 11 | E 6 | N 11 | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 8 | SE 7 | E 9 | E 8 | — | — | NW 10 |
| kJ | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 66 | 54 | 14 | 10 | — | — | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | — | SSW 2 | S 3 | SSE 4 | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | — | WNW 2 | WNW 8 | S 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 8 | ENE 10 |
| kJ | 608 | 236 | — | 1 | 1 | 10 | 15 | 24 | 148 | 428 | 617 | 695 | 632 | 588 | — | 1 | 1128 | 5 | 34 | 480 | 1576 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 105 | 105 | 105 | 426 | 58 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 740 | 648 | 602 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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