The Bowl surfForecast / Scot – North Coast / UK

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 6 pm Wednesday 06 May 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
8.9° 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 (May 07) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 11) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (May 12) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Thu 7th May)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Best Surf 4AM (Thu 7th May)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Most Powerful 7AM (Mon 11th May)11ft (3.5m) 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

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNE on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Thu night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Mon night, min 5°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Sun morning, light winds from the W by Mon night).

Wed
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
Tuesday
12
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
3
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)
1.2
N
9
1.2
N
10
1.2
N
10
1
N
9
1.5
W
9
1.4
W
8
1.4
W
8
2.1
NW
9
2.2
NNW
10
2.2
NNW
10
2
NNW
10
1.4
N
10
3
NW
9
3.5
NNW
10
3.5
NNW
10
3
NNW
10
1.9
N
10
2.4
WNW
7
2.4
WNW
8
2.4
WNW
11
2
WNW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
235
273
268
166
359
239
251
660
970
973
761
432
1254
2199
2210
1855
696
543
745
1447
916
Wind (km/h)
10
NNE
20
SE
25
SSE
20
S
30
SW
35
WSW
30
WNW
20
WNW
20
NW
20
WNW
25
WSW
40
SW
40
NNW
40
NNW
35
N
30
NW
20
SW
40
W
30
W
15
WNW
30
NNE
cross-on
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
High Tide
00:08AM4.40m
12:47PM4.00m
00:52AM4.22m
1:46PM3.86m
1:50AM4.08m
2:58PM3.80m
3:01AM4.01m
4:13PM3.86m
4:13AM4.06m
5:18PM4.02m
5:17AM4.22m
6:12PM4.25m
6:12AM4.44m
Low Tide
6:02PM2.12m
6:37AM1.98m
6:43PM2.33m
7:24AM2.14m
7:33PM2.53m
8:24AM2.26m
8:42PM2.65m
9:39AM2.27m
10:06PM2.64m
10:54AM2.14m
11:21PM2.48m
11:55AM1.91m
00:19AM2.22m
12:46PM1.64m
cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:05
5:03
5:01
4:58
4:56
4:54
4:52
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:15
9:17
9:20
9:22
9:23
9:27
9:29
9:30
1
1
4
2
3
2
1
1
1
Temp °C
7
7
11
12
11
9
7
7
7
7
7
6
7
6
7
7
9
9
9
7
8
3
2
4
7
3
1
-1
1
1
0
0
-3
-3
-3
-1
-1
2
0
2
2
1
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
N
9
1.2
N
10
1.2
N
10
1
N
9
1.5
W
9
0.6
N
9
0.6
NW
12
2.1
NW
9
2.2
NNW
10
2.2
NNW
10
2
NNW
10
1.4
N
10
2.5
WNW
8
0.1
W
15
1.9
N
10
1.3
N
10
1.1
N
9
2.4
WNW
11
2
WNW
11
Energy kJ
235
273
268
166
359
58
96
660
970
973
761
432
931
4
696
318
210
1447
916
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
WNW
8
0.5
W
8
0.5
W
7
1
W
9
0.8
N
9
0.2
ESE
7
0.5
N
9
0.9
NW
11
0.5
W
12
0.5
W
12
0.4
W
11
0.3
WNW
14
0.1
W
20
0.1
W
18
Energy kJ
73
33
28
148
103
5
40
185
69
66
36
37
7
6
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SE
4
0.4
SE
8
0.2
W
15
0.3
W
14
0.4
W
13
Energy kJ
2
14
17
37
53
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SE
3
0.7
SSE
3
0.3
S
3
1.4
W
8
1.4
W
8
1.7
W
6
3
NW
9
3.5
NNW
10
3.5
NNW
10
3
NNW
10
1.6
WNW
9
2.4
WNW
7
2.4
WNW
8
1.2
N
9
1.5
N
6
Energy kJ
5
10
2
239
251
178
1254
2199
2210
1855
374
543
745
230
149
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
3
1
1
5
1
1
3
1
2
3
Distance (km)
0
16
9
0
421
141
176
287
35
362
849
7
148
332
9
607
648
183
814
289
21
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
3
5
3
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
1
2
3
4
1
1
3
1
1
5
1
1
4
2
2
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
6
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
5
4
4
5
9
5
9
9
5
9
9
8
  • 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