The Bowl surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 am Thursday 28 May 2026 BST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
The Bowl surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's The Bowl sea temperature is
9.7° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

The Bowl surf forecast from 28 May 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 30 May, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 29 May, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, W swell with 750 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 30 May, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period with W swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Bowl this week:

The surf forecast for The Bowl over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (May 30) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 18s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Bowl in the next 16 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 29) at 10PM. 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 6s period and expected on Friday (May 29) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Sat 30th May)5ft (1.6m) 7s
Best Surf 7AM (Sat 30th May)5ft (1.6m) 7s
Most Powerful10PM (Fri 29th May)8ft (2.5m) 8s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Bowl over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WSW on Fri night, calm by Sat morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
28
Friday
29
Saturday
30
Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
W
9
0.4
W
9
0.4
W
8
0.5
WNW
9
1.6
WSW
6
2.2
W
7
1.4
W
7
1
W
7
0.9
N
10
1
N
10
0.9
N
10
0.6
W
12
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
11
0.4
WSW
10
0.5
N
8
0.5
N
8
0.3
W
14
0.6
W
13
0.6
W
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
40
25
20
48
188
520
187
97
149
184
146
104
66
64
58
33
33
31
37
125
103
Wind (km/h)
20
SE
30
SE
10
SSE
15
SW
35
SW
35
WSW
5
SSW
10
SE
10
SSE
10
NNW
5
W
10
SSE
15
SSE
5
NNE
10
NNE
20
NW
25
WNW
10
W
25
SE
25
ESE
25
ESE
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
8:02PM4.50m
8:09AM4.52m
8:36PM4.60m
8:48AM4.52m
9:07PM4.68m
9:25AM4.49m
9:38PM4.72m
10:01AM4.44m
10:10PM4.73m
10:37AM4.38m
10:43PM4.69m
11:15AM4.30m
11:18PM4.62m
Low Tide
1:43PM1.64m
2:04AM1.86m
2:21PM1.63m
2:42AM1.73m
2:55PM1.65m
3:19AM1.63m
3:29PM1.69m
3:54AM1.59m
4:02PM1.75m
4:30AM1.59m
4:36PM1.83m
5:06AM1.63m
5:11PM1.94m
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
light rain
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
cloud
cloud
mod rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:22
4:20
4:20
4:18
4:16
4:16
4:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:00
10:02
10:05
10:06
10:07
10:09
10:10
1
2
4
2
2
10
3
Temp °C
16
17
15
16
14
12
14
13
13
14
14
13
16
15
12
12
12
11
12
14
12
10
12
12
13
8
4
12
11
12
13
13
12
16
14
10
8
7
7
7
9
6
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
W
9
0.4
W
9
0.5
SE
7
0.5
WNW
9
0.4
WNW
9
0.1
W
18
1.4
W
7
1
W
7
0.9
N
10
1
N
10
0.9
N
10
0.7
N
9
0.5
N
8
0.5
W
11
0.5
W
11
0.4
NNE
7
0.5
N
8
0.5
N
8
0.5
NNE
8
0.6
W
13
0.6
W
12
Energy kJ
40
25
23
48
27
6
187
97
149
184
146
76
33
64
58
18
33
31
34
125
103
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
NW
6
0.3
NW
6
0.4
W
8
0.2
ESE
6
0.2
ESE
6
0.1
W
19
0.1
W
11
0.3
N
8
0.7
W
7
0.6
W
11
0.5
W
12
0.6
W
12
0.5
W
11
0.5
N
8
0.4
N
7
0.4
WSW
10
0.3
WSW
10
0.3
WSW
9
0.3
W
14
0.5
N
8
0.4
NNE
7
Energy kJ
6
6
20
4
4
7
2
11
52
94
72
104
66
31
17
33
19
17
37
29
18
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
7
0.2
N
7
0.3
NW
6
0.1
N
6
0.1
N
6
0.1
N
8
0.3
N
12
0.3
W
13
0.5
W
7
0.5
W
6
0.4
WNW
4
0.3
N
9
0.1
NW
6
0.1
NW
5
0.3
WSW
9
Energy kJ
4
4
6
1
1
1
26
31
24
21
5
14
1
1
17
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SE
3
0.9
SE
4
0.2
WSW
2
0.6
W
4
1.6
WSW
6
2.2
W
7
0.2
ESE
3
0.9
WSW
5
0.7
W
4
0.4
E
3
0.4
E
3
0.5
E
3
0.6
E
3
0.3
ESE
6
0.5
E
3
0.6
E
4
Energy kJ
5
28
1
14
188
520
1
40
19
2
3
5
8
6
5
9
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
Distance (km)
26
369
176
12
678
303
0
0
0
21
7
0
9
10
16
21
176
8
34
34
9
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
9
7
5
5
5
5
7
7
6
5
4
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the The Bowl Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for The Bowl provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Bowl can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Bowl 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 (The Bowl) 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 The Bowl 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 The Bowl, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Scotland - North Coast, consider staying in Scrabster which is 7 km (4 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 39 km (24 miles) away and Kirkwall, 56 km (35 miles) away.

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