
Surf Forecasts:
The Left surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, NNW swell with 391 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Left this week:
The surf forecast for The Left over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Left in the next 16 days are 1.6m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Left over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's on the table for The Left. This is a point break that's exposed to the northwest, so it needs a solid NW swell to really fire. The water's sitting at 56°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Looking at the next 16 days, it's a real mixed bag. We're starting off slow, real slow. The first few days into August are pretty flat and messy, with a cross-shore breeze and a weak, short-period NW swell. The energy is weak at around 191, and the combo of small swell and poor wind means it's not worth paddling out. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd are a write-off.
Things don't start looking up until Monday the 3rd. We've got a light cross-offshore wind in the afternoon, and the swell bumps up a touch to 4 ft out of the north with a 9-second period. The energy is still moderate at 273, but the conditions are clean. It's a small, fun window, nothing crazy.
The real standout, though, is Friday the 7th. The morning is glassy with a light offshore wind, and the swell is 4 ft from the west with a 9-second period. The energy is back up to 204, and the conditions are clean. That's the best small-wave window we've got, and it's worth a look.
Saturday the 8th keeps the clean vibe with a cross-offshore breeze and a 5 ft west swell, but the period drops to 8 seconds, so it'll be a little more jumbled. The energy is moderate at 270.
Then we get a big spike on Sunday the 9th. The swell pumps up to 8 ft in the morning and 10 ft in the afternoon from the WNW, with a 9-second period. The energy is huge – 1124 and 1248 – but the wind is cross-onshore and then onshore, so it's going to be a choppy, lumpy mess. That's expert-only territory, and the conditions are marginal. If you're a charger, keep an eye on it, but don't expect perfection.
The following week is more of a mixed bag. Monday the 10th has a clean morning with a 4 ft north swell and light cross-offshore wind, but it gets blown out by the afternoon. Thursday the 13th afternoon looks promising, with a 7 ft west swell (8-second period) and clean conditions – the energy is getting up to 588, so it's got some push. Friday the 14th morning also has a clean, offshore wind with a 6 ft west swell.
The main takeaway? The Left is going to be inconsistent. The best bets are the clean, small-wave windows on Monday the 3rd afternoon, Friday the 7th, and Saturday the 8th. The big swell on the 9th is a gamble with the wind. For the second week, Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th look promising but are still a way out, so don't book your flights yet.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the E on Wed afternoon, light winds from the SW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
113 | 118 | 147 | 192 | 197 | 344 | 275 | 258 | 136 | 82 | 80 | 58 | 42 | 28 | 27 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 61 | 198 | 342 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 11:14AM4.61m | 11:15PM4.95m | 11:46AM4.59m | 11:48PM4.91m | 12:20PM4.52m | 00:23AM4.81m | 12:59PM4.42m | 1:04AM4.67m | 1:46PM4.29m | 1:55AM4.48m | 2:44PM4.17m | 3:01AM4.28m | 3:55PM4.11m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:10PM1.63m | 5:36AM1.32m | 5:43PM1.68m | 6:12AM1.38m | 6:19PM1.78m | 6:50AM1.50m | 6:59PM1.93m | 7:34AM1.68m | 7:47PM2.10m | 8:27AM1.89m | 8:50PM2.27m | 9:36AM2.09m | 10:15PM2.33m | ||||||||
5:01 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:37 | — | — | 9:35 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:30 | — | — | 9:28 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | NNE 7 | N 7 | NNE 6 | W 9 | W 9 | NNE 9 |
113 | 118 | 147 | 167 | 197 | 344 | 275 | 258 | 136 | 82 | 80 | 58 | 42 | 28 | 27 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 61 | 198 | 8 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 9 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | ESE 6 | E 6 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 5 | NNE 6 | N 10 |
2 | 2 | 26 | — | 131 | 54 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 6 | W 9 | SE 7 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | E 5 | — | NW 5 | NNE 6 | N 10 | — |
— | — | — | — | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 1 | — | 1 | 8 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | WNW 6 | W 6 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | E 3 | E 4 | ENE 3 | — | N 3 | NW 5 | — | SSE 3 | — | W 9 |
76 | 53 | 47 | 192 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 4 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 342 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 816 | 832 | 184 | 46 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 65 | 290 | 2772 | 214 | 380 | 592 | 170 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Left Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Left provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Left can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Left 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 Left) 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 Left 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 Left, 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 38 km (24 miles) away and Kirkwall, 56 km (35 miles) away.











