Surf Forecasts:
The Left surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, W swell with 1,566 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Left this week:
The most powerful waves expected at The Left in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 9s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Fri 24th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Left over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's have a look. The Left (The Left) is a point break that leans into NW swells, and it's fairly consistent, but the first week is a straight-up dud. There's a long dry spell with no worthwhile surf until around the 24th of July, so a week of nothing to get excited about.
From Friday the 17th through Thursday the 23rd, it’s all cross-on or cross-shore winds, mostly from the NW or W, with moderate to fresh breezes that are tearing up the surface. The swell is tiny, 2ft to 4ft, with short periods of 7 to 9 seconds, and the energy is weak to moderate, ranging from 116 to 201. The morning of the 23rd is especially bad with just 2ft of messy cross-shore chop.
The first sign of life shows up on Friday the 24th of July. That morning brings a 6ft WNW swell with a cross-offshore wind from the WSW at 30 km/h, clean conditions, and combined energy of 501—moderate but welcome. By the afternoon, it jumps to 8ft with a 9-second period and 1045 energy, which is a very strong pulse. Winds pick up to 40 km/h but stay cross-offshore, so it stays clean. This is the best on offer: 8ft, clean, pumping, but short period means it will be punchy. That size is for experienced surfers only.
After that, Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th fall back into onshore slop. Monday the 27th of July, however, has a morning window: a light 10 km/h offshore from the south, with a 5ft swell from the west, 10-second period, and 418 energy. Clean and lined up. That's the second standout. Water temp is 13°C, pretty normal for this time of year.
From there it’s back to cross and onshore winds, with moderate to fresh breezes ruining the shape, all the way into the start of August. The 1st of August shows the biggest swell of the run—up to 10ft from the NW but with strong cross-shore winds at 40 km/h, which makes it just a blown-out mess.
So the two real keeper sessions are Friday the 24th and Monday the 27th of July. Mark 'em down.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Tue morning, moderate winds from the NW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 8 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 136 | 137 | 111 | 94 | 102 | 46 | 166 | 150 | 153 | 181 | 311 | 452 | 463 | 300 | 220 | 202 | 276 | 529 | 1345 | 1502 | 1106 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:31PM4.70m | 00:29AM5.05m | 1:16PM4.50m | 1:14AM4.84m | 2:04PM4.29m | 2:03AM4.58m | 2:54PM4.11m | 2:57AM4.31m | 3:51PM3.98m | 4:00AM4.08m | 4:54PM3.95m | 5:13AM3.94m | 6:01PM4.00m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:05AM1.00m | 6:14PM1.70m | 6:51AM1.22m | 6:58PM1.91m | 7:38AM1.51m | 7:46PM2.13m | 8:29AM1.81m | 8:40PM2.34m | 9:27AM2.09m | 9:49PM2.49m | 10:35AM2.28m | 11:12PM2.51m | 11:45AM2.35m | 00:26AM2.39m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 4:33 | — | — | 4:35 | — | — | 4:37 | — | — | 4:39 | — | — | 4:41 | — | — | 4:43 | — | — | 4:46 | — | — |
 | — | — | 10:05 | — | — | 10:02 | — | — | 10:01 | — | — | 10:00 | — | — | 9:58 | — | — | 9:55 | — | — | 9:53 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | ENE 9 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | WNW 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 10 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | — | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | W 13 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 136 | 8 | 35 | 16 | 10 | 43 | 166 | 150 | 51 | 12 | 12 | 5 | — | 17 | 17 | 11 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | — | NE 9 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | W 8 | W 11 | W 10 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 7 | E 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 3 | 31 | 27 | 13 | 58 | 74 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | — | W 14 | W 9 | NE 9 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 4 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 5 | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 6 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | — | 137 | 111 | 94 | 102 | 46 | — | — | 153 | 181 | 311 | 452 | 463 | 300 | 220 | 202 | 276 | 529 | 1345 | 1502 | 1106 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 87 | 289 | 63 | 36 | 63 | 186 | 46 | 608 | 309 | 363 | 777 | 363 | 423 | 423 | 222 | 34 | 63 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 421 |
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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