Surf Forecasts:
The Bowl surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period, W swell with 1,092 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Bowl this week:
The most powerful waves expected at The Bowl in the next 16 days are 2.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for The Bowl over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the outlook is patchy. The first week is a write-off for decent paddling waves. There’s swell on the way, but the wind is relentless. From Friday 17th July right through to the end of the first week, it’s a messy mix of cross-on and cross-shore winds, mostly in the 12 to 25 mph range. The swell is inconsistent, the energy is weak to moderate (116 to 393), and the sea state is just choppy, lumpy, and churned up. The Bowl is an exposed reef and with those conditions, it’s not even worth paddling out. The water's sitting around 56°, which is about normal for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
The only glimmer of hope in the first week is Friday 24th July. The wind swings cross-offshore, the swell builds to 6 ft to 8 ft from the WNW with a period of 8 to 9 seconds, and the energy jumps to strong (501 to 1045). It’s described as clean, but the guidance calls it marginal, so this one is for the experts only. The Bowl is a reef break, so that longer period could make it a bit straight, but the cross-off wind will at least line it up. If you're advanced and confident, keep an eye on it, but it’s not a standout.
The real standout, the one worth circling, comes on Monday 27th July. Morning looks the goods. The wind shifts to a light offshore from the S at 6 mph, with 5 ft of swell from the west at a solid 10-second period. The energy is strong (418) and it’s clean. The Bowl will be well-shaped and glassy. That’s the session to aim for. The afternoon sees the wind swing around to a light cross-on, which isn’t as clean, but the morning is the pick.
After that, things get messy again. The 28th and 29th see the wind pick back up, and the swell stays on the smaller side or gets too cross-choppy. By the time we get into Wednesday 30th and the start of August, the swell gets bigger—over 7 ft and up to 10 ft—but the wind is all over the place, mostly cross-shore and strong. With that size and those winds, this is only for the very experienced, and even then, it’s going to be a messy, chunky affair. The energy is very high (744 to 1130) but the quality just isn’t there for a good paddle.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a dud. The second week has one morning that’s a genuine standout. Circle Monday 27th July. Everything else is either blown out, too big, or just messy. The Bowl is a reef, so it needs the right wind, and for most of the forecast, it’s just not getting it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Tue afternoon, light winds from the NW by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | WNW 9 | NW 8 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 108 | 197 | 136 | 121 | 111 | 81 | 102 | 60 | 142 | 114 | 146 | 297 | 355 | 470 | 393 | 355 | 138 | 60 | 120 | 173 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:44PM5.19m | 12:31PM4.70m | 00:29AM5.05m | 1:16PM4.50m | 1:14AM4.84m | 2:04PM4.29m | 2:03AM4.58m | 2:54PM4.11m | 2:57AM4.31m | 3:51PM3.98m | 4:00AM4.08m | 4:54PM3.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:31PM1.54m | 6:05AM1.00m | 6:14PM1.70m | 6:51AM1.22m | 6:58PM1.91m | 7:38AM1.51m | 7:46PM2.13m | 8:29AM1.81m | 8:40PM2.34m | 9:27AM2.09m | 9:49PM2.49m | 10:35AM2.28m | 11:12PM2.51m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | 4:35 | — | — | 4:37 | — | — | 4:39 | — | — | 4:41 | — | — | 4:43 | — | — |
 | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:05 | — | — | 10:04 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:55 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | N 8 | NW 8 | ENE 9 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | WNW 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | N 8 | N 8 | W 9 | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | N 6 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 108 | 1 | 136 | 8 | 36 | 16 | 10 | 43 | 57 | 51 | 75 | 12 | 12 | 44 | — | — | 138 | 60 | 12 | 173 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | E 6 | NE 7 | N 7 | NE 8 | W 9 | WNW 12 | W 8 | N 6 | N 6 | N 8 | — | — | N 8 | — | — | N 7 | N 7 | E 9 | NNE 6 |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 27 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 12 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 56 | 31 | 2 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | E 6 | N 7 | — | W 14 | WNW 12 | NE 9 | N 6 | E 8 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | NE 9 | W 13 |
| kJ | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 31 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | WNW 9 | — | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | W 4 | WNW 8 | — |
| kJ | 7 | 197 | — | 121 | 111 | 81 | 102 | 60 | 142 | 114 | 146 | 297 | 355 | 470 | 393 | 355 | — | 11 | 120 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 86 | 63 | 86 | 183 | 35 | 63 | 186 | 63 | 63 | 424 | 186 | 354 | 1106 | 63 | 86 | 86 | 63 | 63 | 104 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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