The Bowl Surf Break

The Bowl Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 58.62° N 3.65° W

Issued: 12 am 03 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's The Bowl sea temperature is
12.0° C

Normal for this time of year

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 3 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 4 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 3 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 10s period, WNW swell with 1,059 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 4 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 Saturday (Jul 04) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 10s period. 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 2.3m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 03) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Sat 4th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 10s
Best Surf 4AM (Sat 4th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 10s
Most Powerful10PM (Fri 3rd Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 10s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, let me tell you how it’s shaping up. The Bowl is really the only spot on the radar for this whole stretch, and it’s a mixed bag – some moments of real promise, but you’ll have to pick your windows carefully. It’s an advanced reef break that needs the right wind and tide, so don’t just rock up anytime.

The coming days start with a thumping but messy pulse. On Thursday afternoon (July 2nd), we’ve got a solid 10ft swell from the WNW, but with a 28 mph cross-wind, it’s going to be a choppy, blown-out mess. The wave energy is pumping hard, but the quality is just not there. You’d be better off waiting.

Friday (July 3rd) is a little better, with the swell dropping to 6ft and cleaner conditions in the morning, but it’s still pretty marginal with that cross-off wind freshening up. The afternoon picks up to 7ft, but the wind stays punchy.

Now, Saturday morning (July 4th) is where I’d point you. The swell is a still tasty 6ft from the west, period stretching out to 10 seconds, and with a light 9 mph cross-off breeze from the SSE, it’s going to be clean. There’s plenty of push. This is the standout window early on – expect very good conditions on offer here. Crowds can pop up here sometimes, so get in early.

Sunday morning (July 5th) drops off to a smaller 4ft, but that afternoon turns glassy with zero wind and a 4ft west swell. It’s surfable but very ordinary. Monday morning (July 6th) is another glassy one with 4ft, good for a sneaky session but nothing to write home about.

Then things get interesting again. Tuesday morning (July 7th) brings a 6ft west swell with glassy conditions and a short, punchy period of 6 seconds. That’s a good, clean window. But then Tuesday afternoon jumps up to 8ft, which is getting into expert territory with a cross-off wind. That’s a big, clean wall for the crew who can handle it.

After that, there’s a long gap of poor conditions. From Wednesday (July 8th) all the way through to the middle of the month, it’s mostly onshore, choppy, or just too small. The swell drops away, and there’s nothing worth chasing until Friday morning, July 10th. That morning has a 4ft west-northwest groundswell with an 11-second period, clean conditions, and moderate energy. It’s worth a look for the patient surfer, but it’s not a standout.

The real long-range standout is a late call. Monday afternoon, July 13th, is weird – we get a 4ft west swell with a very long 14-second period, but the wind is directly onshore from the NNW. That long period groundswell will be holding up, but with an onshore wind, it’s going to be a battle. For the experts, the power will be there, but for everyone else, Tuesday morning (July 14th) is cleaner with a 4ft west swell and an 11-second period, again with a cross-onshore breeze.

Honestly, this is a two-window forecast: Saturday morning July 4th for the best all-round clean fun, and Tuesday afternoon July 7th for the big, expert-level stuff. The rest is mostly flat or too windy. The water temp is around 54°, which is pretty normal for this time of year at The Bowl.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Fri afternoon, calm by Fri night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Sun night. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun night, strong winds from the W by Tue night).

Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
3
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
2
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
W
9
2.1
W
10
2.3
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
10
1.5
W
10
1.6
WNW
9
1.2
WNW
9
1.1
W
9
0.9
WNW
9
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.8
W
8
0.7
W
8
1.2
W
5
2.5
W
7
2.2
W
7
1.8
W
8
1.4
WNW
9
1.3
W
9
1.2
W
10
1
W
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
517
809
1038
574
414
391
238
190
123
138
112
86
66
73
711
515
367
297
293
257
183
Wind (km/h)
35
WSW
35
WSW
20
SW
5
ESE
25
W
20
W
25
W
5
NW
5
SSW
15
ENE
15
ENE
10
ESE
5
S
15
W
40
W
30
WNW
25
WNW
5
SW
5
SSE
15
E
10
ESE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
glassy
off
cross
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
glassy
off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
11:39AM4.37m
11:39PM4.72m
12:16PM4.34m
00:15AM4.66m
12:55PM4.28m
00:54AM4.60m
1:39PM4.22m
1:39AM4.51m
2:30PM4.17m
2:32AM4.42m
3:28PM4.15m
3:34AM4.35m
4:32PM4.19m
Low Tide
5:27AM1.53m
5:32PM1.88m
6:03AM1.56m
6:08PM1.95m
6:41AM1.62m
6:47PM2.05m
7:22AM1.70m
7:31PM2.16m
8:10AM1.79m
8:23PM2.27m
9:06AM1.88m
9:27PM2.34m
10:13AM1.93m
10:45PM2.31m
clear
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
heavy rain
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
4:11
4:13
4:13
4:15
4:16
4:18
4:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
10:23
10:22
10:22
10:21
10:20
10:19
10:17
 mm
5
11
1
2
2
2
Temp °C
16
16
14
14
14
13
14
12
13
12
12
13
14
14
14
14
14
14
20
20
18
Feels °C
9
9
10
13
10
9
11
12
12
9
10
13
13
12
7
9
10
13
20
19
18
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
N
6
0.2
N
6
2.3
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
10
1.6
WNW
9
1.2
WNW
9
1.1
W
9
0.9
WNW
9
1
W
8
0.9
W
8
0.8
W
8
0.7
W
8
0.5
N
7
0.5
N
8
0.3
N
8
0.3
N
8
1.4
WNW
9
1.3
W
9
1.2
W
10
1
W
10
Energy kJ
11
2
1038
574
391
238
190
123
138
112
86
66
28
35
11
10
297
293
257
183
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
N
7
0.2
NNW
10
0.4
NNW
9
0.5
N
8
0.6
N
8
0.4
N
9
0.3
N
7
0.3
N
7
0.2
N
7
0.6
W
13
Energy kJ
1
10
26
33
43
26
8
9
4
121
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
N
6
0.2
N
6
0.3
N
9
0.1
N
8
0.1
N
10
0.2
N
6
Energy kJ
3
2
15
1
2
3
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
W
9
2.1
W
10
1.5
W
10
0.5
NE
4
0.5
NE
4
0.2
E
4
0.4
W
3
1.2
W
5
2.5
W
7
2.2
W
7
1.8
W
8
Energy kJ
517
809
414
9
8
1
2
73
711
515
367
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
3
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
Distance (km)
34
345
7
0
778
34
36
0
0
16
9
0
0
7
311
424
278
0
0
17
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
4
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
5
6
8
5
9
7
5
9
9
8
6
5
9
9
9
5
5
6
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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