The Bowl Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.62° N 3.65° W

The Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 08 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Bowl sea temperature is
13.3° C
0.1° 

The Bowl surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


The Bowl surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, N swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, W swell with 1,170 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period with N 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at The Bowl in the next 16 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 4PM. 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 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Tue 11th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 9s
Best Surf 1AM (Tue 11th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 9s
Most Powerful 4PM (Sat 8th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s be real about the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a short window of real potential right at the start, then a whole lot of nothing for a long stretch. It’s one of those times where you gotta be ready to move when the ocean gives the word, because she’s gonna clam up tight after.

The Bowl is the only name on the board this period. It’s a solid reef setup, and when the conditions line up, it’s got some proper punch. Water temp is sitting at 56°F, which is right on the money for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Here’s how it’s gonna go down.

Saturday, August 8th is where your eyes should be. The morning kicks off with a 7ft W swell, a 9-second period, and a cross-off breeze. That’s clean face juice. The energy is moderate at 665, but it’s the best shape we’re going to see. The afternoon pushes the swell up to 8ft from the W, period stretches to 10 seconds, and the energy jumps right up to 1189. That’s a powerful pulse of swell. Wind stays cross-off, so it’s going to be a proper session. This is the standout window. It’s not for the faint of heart at that size, but for the lads who know their way around a reef, this is the one.

Sunday, August 9th is still worth a paddle. Morning has a 8ft W swell with a 9-second period and cross-off wind, energy at 1077. It’s carrying some muscle. The afternoon backs off a bit to 7ft, and the wind goes more cross, making it lumpy. Get on it early if you’re going to get on it at all.

After that, the plug gets pulled. Monday, August 10th sees the wind swing onshore and it just gets messy. That’s it for real surf for a while.

We’ve got a long gap here. From Tuesday through the next week and a half, it’s pretty bleak. There’s a tiny pulse on Tuesday morning, August 11th – 4ft from the N, but with an 8-second period it’s weak and not worth the effort. Then it just drops off a cliff. The swell goes small, the periods get short, and everything gets chopped up or just peters out. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday morning, August 19th when it goes glassy, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft. Nothing to do but look at the horizon and wait.

The good news is that the bowl is a fairly consistent setup, so this kind of dead run doesn’t usually last forever. Forecasts can and do change. Keep an eye on that swell window; it might just light up again with a bit of notice.

So, that’s the story. One solid hit, then a long dry spell. Be ready for it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sun morning, calm by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
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
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
1
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)
2
W
9
2.5
W
10
2
W
10
2.5
W
9
2.2
W
9
2.5
NW
9
2.5
NNW
10
2.1
NNW
9
1.5
N
9
1.2
N
8
0.9
N
8
0.6
N
8
0.3
W
12
0.6
W
11
0.6
W
7
0.7
W
11
1.1
W
10
0.5
W
10
0.7
W
6
0.7
W
6
0.9
WNW
4
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
642
1170
730
1062
800
1137
1079
732
356
195
104
41
24
82
34
116
254
50
41
38
34
Wind (km/h)
35
SW
30
SW
30
WSW
35
WSW
30
WNW
35
WNW
35
WNW
30
NW
5
WNW
20
SSE
20
SE
15
SSE
10
S
5
WNW
5
SSE
5
SW
25
W
15
SW
15
W
25
WNW
25
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
5:15PM4.16m
5:55AM4.19m
6:32PM4.36m
7:16AM4.39m
7:36PM4.63m
8:20AM4.63m
8:30PM4.91m
9:12AM4.84m
9:16PM5.15m
9:57AM4.97m
9:59PM5.31m
10:39AM4.99m
10:40PM5.35m
Low Tide
11:01AM2.17m
11:47PM2.18m
12:22PM2.08m
1:01AM1.85m
1:26PM1.88m
1:59AM1.47m
2:19PM1.67m
2:49AM1.13m
3:05PM1.49m
3:34AM0.89m
3:48PM1.37m
4:17AM0.79m
4:28PM1.34m
cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
mod rain
cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:18
5:20
5:22
5:24
5:26
5:28
5:31
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:20
9:17
9:15
9:13
9:09
9:07
9:05
 mm
1
2
1
9
Temp °C
17
16
14
15
14
12
11
11
10
13
14
17
22
21
18
19
19
15
15
15
13
Feels °C
11
10
11
8
8
5
3
4
6
8
9
15
21
21
18
18
15
12
13
11
9
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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