Surf Forecasts:
The Bowl surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 7s period, NNE swell with 499 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s period with WSW 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 6s. 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 2.2m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 4PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Bowl over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Let’s cut through it. The Bowl is an advanced reef break, and over the next 16 days there’s very little to get excited about. There’s a quiet start, a few tiny windows, and then a lot of wind and mess.
Wednesday the 12th afternoon gives you a 2ft west swell with a 10-second period – long period but small. Combined wave energy is only 95, so it’s weak. Winds are glassy from the NW at 3 mph. Water temp is 56°, right about normal. It’s rideable but nothing special.
Thursday the 13th morning is calm and glassy with a 2ft west swell, 11-second period, energy at 82. Afternoon bumps up to 2ft, same direction, energy at 163 (moderate), still glassy with a light NE breeze. Cleanest waves of the run, but tiny.
From Friday the 14th through Monday the 17th morning, it’s cross-shore winds, chop, and poor conditions. Not worth it.
Tuesday the 18th is flat calm – 1ft and 2ft, energy in the 20s and 30s.
Here’s the one standout. Wednesday the 19th afternoon. Swell jumps to 6ft from the north, 8-second period (short period windswell), but combined energy hits 426 (strong). Winds go glassy from the WSW at 3 mph. For an advanced reef, 6ft is solid. The short period means it won’t be perfect, but glassy conditions at The Bowl could give a few good ones. The morning of the 19th has a 7ft NNE swell but with cross-winds, so the afternoon is the pick.
After that, Thursday the 20th through the rest of the month is a mess – strong onshore winds, lumpy chop. There’s a half-decent morning on the 23rd with a 2ft west swell, 9-second period, and light offshore wind from the south at 3 mph – clean but tiny. Energy only 104.
The second week stays poor. Wednesday the 26th has 6ft north swell but with strong cross-winds, and Thursday the 27th has 28 mph winds. Forget it.
Bottom line: your only real chance is the afternoon of Wednesday the 19th at The Bowl. It’s an advanced spot, inconsistent, but the glassy wind and solid north swell could offer a few clean, punchy waves for those who can handle it. Everything else is a bust.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 13°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the W by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 10 | WSW 10 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | N 9 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 80 | 33 | 64 | 110 | 73 | 62 | 50 | 117 | 141 | 270 | 211 | 96 | 99 | 98 | 89 | 53 | 41 | 28 | 18 | 60 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:16PM5.15m | 9:57AM4.97m | 9:59PM5.31m | 10:39AM4.99m | 10:40PM5.35m | 11:18AM4.92m | 11:19PM5.28m | 11:55AM4.77m | 11:57PM5.10m | 12:32PM4.57m | 00:36AM4.83m | 1:10PM4.35m | 1:17AM4.51m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:34AM0.89m | 3:48PM1.37m | 4:17AM0.79m | 4:28PM1.34m | 4:58AM0.82m | 5:07PM1.40m | 5:37AM0.98m | 5:45PM1.53m | 6:16AM1.25m | 6:23PM1.74m | 6:55AM1.57m | 7:03PM1.99m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  | | |  | | |  | | | | |  | | |
 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — |
 | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 10 |
Temp °C | 23 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 22 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 6 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | N 9 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 8 | N 7 | NNE 7 | ESE 6 |
| kJ | 80 | 25 | 64 | 110 | 73 | 62 | 45 | 40 | 25 | 24 | 211 | 96 | 99 | 98 | 89 | 53 | 41 | 28 | 18 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | WSW 10 | W 6 | N 10 | N 9 | W 10 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | — | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | 15 | 33 | 6 | 53 | 43 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 34 | 90 | 57 | 34 | 13 | 26 | 22 | 11 | 5 | 10 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | N 7 | N 8 | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 6 | — | — | — | — | N 8 | N 8 | — | W 12 | W 10 | WNW 6 | W 5 | — | — | NNE 7 |
| kJ | 3 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 12 | — | 3 | 18 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SE 2 | W 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 8 | N 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | NE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | 50 | 117 | 141 | 270 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 42 | 34 | 60 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 824 | 592 | 592 | 778 | 63 | 82 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 63 | 21 |
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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