Surf Forecasts:
The Left surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, W swell with 701 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 10s period with W 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. 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 1.9m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Left over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Looking at The Left over the next couple weeks, and it’s a pretty bleak picture. Not much swell, and when it does show up, the wind is usually gonna be in the wrong spot.
Water temperature is right around 56°F, which is normal for this place at this time of year.
The only real spike in energy shows up on Thursday the 20th of August. We get a decent 7ft west swell pumping with a combined swell energy of 661. But the wind will be blowing straight onshore from the NNE at 9 mph, so it’s gonna be a choppy washing machine. That’s expert territory only, and even then, it won’t be pretty.
Your best chance for something clean is happening right at the start. Thursday the 13th of August, we’ve got glassy conditions with a tiny 2ft west swell. The combined swell energy is just 82, so it's weak, but it’ll be clean with no wind. The afternoon stays glassy with a 2ft west swell. It’s small, but it’s the cleanest it’s gonna get for a while.
After that, it’s a long stretch of junk. From Friday the 14th all the way through the 19th, it's mostly cross-shore winds, lumpy conditions, and dropping swell. A solid 8-day gap of nothing good.
Once that windy swell on the 20th passes, it fades to tiny, weak waves for the rest of the 16 days. There are a few mornings in the second week that look clean with cross-offshore wind, like the 23rd of August, but the swell is only 2ft. Not worth the drive.
Bottom line: the cleanest waves are right now, but they’re small. The only bit of muscle comes on the 20th, but it’s onshore and ugly. A quiet, frustrating outlook for The Left.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, fresh winds from the W by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | ||||||||||||||
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 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | NNE 7 | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | NNE 7 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 110 | 73 | 92 | 52 | 55 | 134 | 295 | 202 | 99 | 107 | 80 | 80 | 86 | 63 | 28 | 18 | 189 | 701 | 415 | 346 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | glassy | off |
High Tide | 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 | 1:52PM4.13m | 2:06AM4.17m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 7:36AM1.93m | 7:49PM2.25m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | |  | | | |  |  | | |
 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — |
 | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:02 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — |
mm | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 5 |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | 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 8 | N 8 | N 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | W 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | 110 | 73 | 62 | 45 | 40 | 25 | 24 | 202 | 99 | 107 | 80 | 80 | 86 | 63 | 28 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 415 | 78 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 9 | E 6 | SE 5 | — | — | — | N 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 7 | W 7 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | E 5 | — | — | N 7 | — |
| kJ | 53 | 43 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 22 | 70 | 73 | 34 | 13 | 27 | 22 | 20 | 2 | — | — | 54 | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | E 5 | — | — | E 5 | — | — | NNW 10 | — | — | W 12 | W 10 | WNW 6 | W 6 | E 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 9 | — | — | 3 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 10 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | — | W 4 | W 9 | W 10 | — | NNE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 92 | 52 | 55 | 134 | 295 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | 31 | 189 | 701 | — | 346 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1181 | 590 | 1085 | 777 | 21 | 7 | 32 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 621 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 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.
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