
Surf Forecasts:
The Bowl surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 11 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, WNW swell with 3,858 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look ahead at what we’ve got cookin’ for The Bowl. It’s a reef setup that loves a good NW swell, and we’ve got a wild ride of a forecast, from flat spells to some absolute monsters.
We start off with a bit of a wait. The first few days are a write-off – Thursday and Friday we’re dealing with messy, blown-out conditions from strong cross-off winds and a messy sea state. Then Saturday and Sunday bring oversized, junky swell and howling winds. It’s not gonna be pretty at all, and honestly, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing with that much wind and chop. A surfer’s gotta be patient.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on Monday the 14th. The Bowl sees a drop in size to a manageable 5ft from the west with a moderate offshore wind. That’ll clean things up nicely for the afternoon, with moderate wave energy (593) – a nice, gentle start to the week.
But the true standout, the one you’ve gotta circle on the calendar, is Tuesday the 22nd of September. This is an all-timer on the cards. We’re talking a massive 18ft swell from the WNW with a very long 13-second period. That’s a proper groundswell with serious energy (9644). Now, a 13-second period at a reef break is a beautiful thing – long, drawn-out lines. The kicker is a gentle offshore SSW breeze. This is an *exceptional* day for expert surfers only; this swell is well over 8ft, so it’s definitely not for the faint of heart or beginners. The water temp has been sitting around average for the time of year, so a good 3/2 wetsuit will do the job.
Before that big day, there’s a solid session on Friday the 18th. An 8ft WNW groundswell with a moderate offshore S wind – excellent conditions for experienced surfers (2015 combined energy). That’s a strong, punchy wave without the sheer terror of the 22nd.
And then, after the big blow, we get a treat for the 23rd. The swell drops to 6ft from the WNW, with light cross-off winds. The afternoon of the 23rd is pure magic though: glassy conditions from the ESE, a 4ft WNW swell with moderate energy (637). That’s your sneaky good, low-key session to finish off the run.
After that, the 24th and 25th still offer swell in the 10ft to 15ft range, again for experts, but the winds start to get a bit iffy with cross-shore breezes and lower quality marks.
So, to sum it up: the next week is a write-off. Don’t bother until Monday the 14th for a small, clean wave. Lock in the 18th for a very good, solid session for experienced surfers. But the absolute gem, the one that’s worth the wait, is the morning of the 22nd of September – a true big-wave paradise with perfect offshore wind. Be ready.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WSW on Sat morning, light winds from the W by Sat night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | W 10 | W 7 | W 9 | W 11 | W 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | W 9 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 11 | W 10 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
92 | 682 | 527 | 836 | 1144 | 3168 | 3331 | 1619 | 823 | 607 | 467 | 361 | 292 | 338 | 224 | 242 | 196 | 742 | 345 | 202 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:00PM5.19m | 9:38AM5.00m | 9:38PM5.31m | 10:12AM5.01m | 10:14PM5.32m | 10:45AM4.94m | 10:49PM5.21m | 11:16AM4.81m | 11:23PM5.00m | 11:47AM4.64m | 11:58PM4.71m | 12:19PM4.44m | 00:35AM4.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:16AM0.87m | 3:29PM1.34m | 3:55AM0.82m | 4:05PM1.28m | 4:31AM0.90m | 4:40PM1.32m | 5:06AM1.09m | 5:15PM1.44m | 5:39AM1.36m | 5:50PM1.64m | 6:12AM1.69m | 6:27PM1.89m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | |
7:50 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:32 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | N 10 | W 11 | W 13 | SE 7 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | W 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | N 9 | W 10 | W 9 |
92 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1144 | 3168 | 7 | 1619 | 823 | 607 | 467 | 361 | 228 | 338 | 224 | 242 | 196 | 14 | 345 | 202 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | — | N 10 | WNW 14 | N 9 | N 9 | — | NNW 15 | NNW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | W 12 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | — | — | N 8 | N 8 |
16 | 4 | — | 2 | 472 | 2 | 2 | — | 86 | 289 | 282 | 132 | 73 | 116 | 75 | 50 | — | — | 5 | 84 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 12 | — | — | — | N 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 9 | SE 6 | — | — | NW 10 | N 8 |
3 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 66 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 4 | W 10 | W 7 | W 9 | — | SSE 4 | WNW 12 | — | — | — | SE 3 | SSE 3 | W 9 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 6 | WNW 11 | NNW 6 | W 6 |
11 | 682 | 527 | 836 | — | 12 | 3331 | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 292 | — | 44 | 51 | 141 | 742 | 68 | 80 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 33 | 577 | 34 | 0 | 421 | 171 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 32 | 63 | 601 | 759 | 298 | 148 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










