Surf Forecasts:
The Bowl surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 28 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, NW swell with 1,162 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Tuesday (Jul 28) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 9s. 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 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's cut through the noise and get to what the next couple of weeks looks like for The Bowl. It ain't gonna be a classic.
Water temp is about 55°, right on the money for this time of year.
So we start off in the gutter. Sunday the 26th is a total washout – a 7ft NW swell getting torn to shreds by a stiff cross-onshore wind. It's a lumpy, bumpy mess. Don't even think about it.
Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are a bit better in the mornings, with cleaner conditions and a cross-offshore wind on a 6ft NNW swell, but it's still a marginal call and the energy is weak. The afternoons are all cross-chop and poor form. Not worth the paddle out.
Wednesday the 29th gives us a brief window. A gentle offshore wind, a clean 3ft N swell, and the water is clean. The energy is low, at 268, so the waves won't have much punch, but it'll be the most organised the lineup gets all week.
From Thursday the 30th onward, it's a grim scene. Tiny waves, onshore winds, and 'poor surf conditions' is the name of the game. We're lookin' at a big, 4-day blank run from the 30th right into the following week. There's a big pulse of swell rolling in on Sunday the 2nd of August – a solid 8ft NNW groundswell packing a massive 1782 of energy. But the winds are gonna be cross-shore and onshore, so it'll be a washing machine. That one is for the experts only; the average surfer will get eaten alive.
For the standouts, I'm circling Wednesday the 29th as your best bet for clean, small-wave fun on a reef that likes a NW swell. But the real one to watch is Sunday the 2nd of August. That big, 8ft, 10-second period NNW swell... The Bowl is an exposed reef and this direction is perfect for it. The problem is the wind is going to ruin it, making it a raw, choppy beast. If you're an experienced charger, you'll know what to do. For the rest of us? It's a skip.
Overall, we've got a real dry spell. Expect a 4-day gap with nothing and then just a whole lot of onshore junk. Not much to get excited about.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 10 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | N 9 | WSW 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | W 8 | WNW 7 | N 8 | WNW 5 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | N 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 895 | 1088 | 591 | 340 | 326 | 235 | 260 | 198 | 155 | 130 | 98 | 55 | 42 | 138 | 263 | 226 | 113 | 219 | 168 | 280 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 10:43AM4.59m | 10:44PM4.94m | 11:14AM4.61m | 11:15PM4.95m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:10AM1.96m | 2:18PM2.06m | 2:49AM1.76m | 2:55PM1.92m | 3:24AM1.58m | 3:30PM1.78m | 3:58AM1.44m | 4:04PM1.69m | 4:30AM1.35m | 4:37PM1.63m | 5:03AM1.31m | 5:10PM1.63m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 4:52 | — | — | 4:54 | — | — | 4:56 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — |
 | — | 9:50 | — | — | 9:47 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:44 | — | — | 9:42 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:37 |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | W 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | — | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 |
| kJ | — | 439 | 591 | 340 | 326 | 235 | 256 | 198 | 155 | 130 | 98 | 55 | 42 | 42 | — | 226 | 113 | 108 | 84 | 72 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | NNW 9 | W 9 | — | W 9 | W 8 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | W 8 | NNW 9 | — | E 7 | — | W 11 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 408 | 340 | 289 | 176 | — | 101 | 113 | 117 | 63 | 45 | 28 | 8 | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | SE 5 | NNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | NW 10 | — | W 5 | — | SE 3 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | WNW 5 | NNW 7 | W 5 | W 5 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 |
| kJ | 895 | 1088 | — | 64 | — | 3 | 260 | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 138 | 263 | 43 | 131 | 219 | 168 | 280 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1106 | 446 | 34 | 148 | 0 | 9 | 412 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 446 | 278 | 141 | 7 | 45 | 45 | 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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