Surf Forecasts:
The Bowl surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, WNW swell with 4,391 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 1.4m and 10s is also forecast. 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 5.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 16ft (5.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk The Bowl. It’s a reef, loves a north-west swell, and it's for the experienced crew only. Water temp is standard for this time of year.
First real chance to get wet is Friday the 24th of July, but it's a fight. You've got 8ft of W swell at 9 seconds, building to 10ft later, with a 35–45 km/h cross-off wind. The energy is strong (1100 and 1384), but that wind is brutal. It’s clean but far from easy. Not the best.
Saturday the 25th is a total mess. Near-gale force cross-shore winds at 55 km/h, and the swell hits 16ft with extreme energy at 4391. That’s survival only. Sunday stays choppy with cross-onshore winds and 5ft waves.
Monday the 27th is where it’s at. The morning is still average with a 7ft cross-off, but Monday afternoon? The wind switches to a light offshore from the south at 10 km/h, and you get a 5ft W groundswell at 10 seconds. Energy is 605, and the surf is clean. That is your best call in the whole forecast.
Tuesday the 28th morning holds up nicely. A 20 km/h offshore from the south, 6ft swell at 9 seconds, energy at 551. Clean again. The afternoon fades fast with rain and a fresh cross-off.
From Wednesday the 29th onward, the swell drops. You get small waves from 2ft up to 5ft over the next week, but the wind is often messy or the energy is weak. A brief bright spot on Tuesday the 4th of August: the afternoon goes glassy with a light northerly, 5ft swell at 9 seconds, energy at 385. Could be clean, but it’s a long way out and not a sure thing.
For the whole 16-day window, the only true highlights are Monday afternoon the 27th of July and Tuesday morning the 28th of July. That’s your window. After that, it gets small and unreliable.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Sat morning, light winds from the NW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sun night, fresh winds from the WSW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1099 | 1384 | 1465 | 4391 | 3320 | 1186 | 533 | 394 | 544 | 792 | 440 | 408 | 455 | 270 | 299 | 205 | 311 | 428 | 295 | 159 | 68 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:13AM3.94m | 6:01PM4.00m | 6:29AM3.92m | 7:01PM4.14m | 7:34AM4.01m | 7:51PM4.32m | 8:24AM4.15m | 8:32PM4.50m | 9:05AM4.29m | 9:09PM4.66m | 9:40AM4.43m | 9:42PM4.80m | 10:12AM4.53m | 10:14PM4.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:45AM2.35m | 00:26AM2.39m | 12:46PM2.31m | 1:24AM2.19m | 1:36PM2.21m | 2:10AM1.96m | 2:18PM2.06m | 2:49AM1.76m | 2:55PM1.92m | 3:24AM1.58m | 3:30PM1.78m | 3:58AM1.44m | 4:04PM1.69m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | |  | | |  | | | | |
 | 4:46 | — | — | 4:48 | — | — | 4:50 | — | — | 4:52 | — | — | 4:54 | — | — | 4:56 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:53 | — | — | 9:52 | — | — | 9:50 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:42 |
mm | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | — | — | — | — | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | N 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | WNW 8 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1186 | 533 | 337 | 544 | 271 | 440 | 408 | 48 | 270 | 299 | 205 | 68 | 83 | 76 | 159 | 68 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | N 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 10 | W 10 | — | N 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | — | — | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 257 | 270 | 394 | 458 | — | 165 | 99 | 48 | 43 | 29 | 17 | — | — | 8 | 69 | 65 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 11 | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | SE 6 | — | NNW 10 | — | — | NW 11 | NW 11 | W 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 91 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 20 | — | — | 5 | 29 | 39 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 8 | W 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | — | — | — | — | W 10 | — | — | W 9 | — | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — |
| kJ | 1099 | 1384 | 1465 | 4391 | 3320 | — | — | — | — | 792 | — | — | 455 | — | — | — | 311 | 428 | 295 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 842 | 759 | 421 | 668 | 813 | 345 | 34 | 35 | 7 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 421 | 7 | 7 | 176 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 34 |
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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