The Bowl surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 pm Wednesday 29 Apr 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
8.5° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

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 Thursday (Apr 30) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 15s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Bowl in the next 16 days are 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 06) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Thursday (Apr 30) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Thu 30th Apr)8ft (2.5m) 15s
Best Surf 4AM (Thu 30th Apr)8ft (2.5m) 15s
Most Powerful10AM (Wed 6th May)13ft (4.0m) 10s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Mon morning, min 4°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sun morning, strong winds from the NNW by Mon night).

Wed
29
Thursday
30
Friday
1
Saturday
2
Sunday
3
Monday
4
Tuesday
5
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
3
5
4
3
3
3
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
WNW
16
2.5
WNW
15
2.4
WNW
14
2.2
WNW
13
1.8
WNW
13
1.6
WNW
12
1.5
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
10
1.3
WNW
10
1.1
WNW
10
0.9
WNW
9
0.8
WNW
9
0.9
WNW
9
1.2
WNW
9
2.1
WNW
8
1.6
WNW
8
1.6
N
9
2
N
8
1
WNW
9
4
NNW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2084
3241
2378
1725
993
683
512
415
396
307
214
121
113
146
243
547
298
390
552
181
3219
Wind (km/h)
15
ESE
10
SSE
10
S
20
SSE
10
SW
0
ESE
15
NW
5
WNW
20
NNE
35
NE
20
NE
5
ENE
10
NNE
25
WSW
25
WNW
10
NW
25
W
35
NW
40
NW
35
WNW
35
NNW
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
High Tide
8:36PM4.68m
8:37AM4.84m
9:06PM4.76m
9:12AM4.85m
9:34PM4.80m
9:44AM4.80m
10:02PM4.81m
10:16AM4.69m
10:30PM4.77m
10:49AM4.54m
10:59PM4.69m
11:23AM4.36m
11:31PM4.56m
12:02PM4.18m
Low Tide
2:29AM1.68m
2:50PM1.31m
3:04AM1.55m
3:22PM1.34m
3:38AM1.48m
3:53PM1.43m
4:11AM1.48m
4:24PM1.55m
4:45AM1.54m
4:55PM1.72m
5:20AM1.66m
5:27PM1.91m
5:56AM1.81m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
light rain
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:22
5:20
5:18
5:15
5:13
5:09
5:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:59
9:00
9:04
9:06
9:07
9:10
9:13
9:15
1
1
1
3
1
2
6
2
Temp °C
16
13
16
18
14
15
12
10
8
7
6
7
8
8
9
8
7
6
5
6
7
12
10
11
12
11
14
9
9
4
-1
-1
4
4
-1
3
5
3
-4
-5
-2
-2
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
WNW
16
2.5
WNW
15
2.4
WNW
14
2.2
WNW
13
1.8
WNW
13
1.6
WNW
12
1.5
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
10
1.3
WNW
10
1.1
N
6
1
N
7
0.9
N
8
0.7
N
8
0.8
NW
9
0.4
N
10
0.5
N
9
1
W
8
1.2
WNW
10
1.1
N
8
Energy kJ
2084
3241
2378
1725
993
683
512
415
396
307
91
109
108
57
91
30
40
118
300
156
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
W
12
0.4
NE
8
0.4
SE
6
0.2
ESE
6
0.1
SE
6
0.2
ESE
6
0.1
SE
6
0.1
SE
6
1.1
WNW
10
0.9
WNW
9
0.8
WNW
9
0.2
NNW
9
0.4
N
8
0.2
N
10
0.3
WNW
11
1
WNW
9
Energy kJ
449
17
10
4
2
4
2
2
214
121
113
8
18
8
25
181
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NNE
8
0.1
SE
5
0.2
SSE
3
0.6
NNW
8
Energy kJ
23
1
1
42
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
N
5
0.2
E
5
0.3
ESE
3
0.9
WNW
9
1.2
WNW
9
2.1
WNW
8
1.6
WNW
8
1.6
N
9
2
N
8
4
NNW
10
Energy kJ
43
2
1
146
243
547
298
390
552
3219
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
4
4
3
3
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
Distance (km)
9
0
0
9
0
0
34
7
86
287
86
9
16
7
424
32
29
1205
964
259
380
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
1
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
4
4
4
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
5
5
6
5
5
9
7
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
5
5
5
5
9
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for The Bowl:

join our community of surf reporters

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 The Bowl 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 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest