Birsay Bay (Orkney Islands) weather

Here are our top tips to keep you, your friends and family safe at the beach with links to Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Met Office advice.



Forecast days

Sunny intervals changing to overcast by lunchtime.
Beach safety today
Large, powerful waves
  • • only experts should take part in water activities

Tide: Next low tide (1.4m) at

Sunrise iconSunrise:
Sunset iconSunset:
- UV
L Pollution
No pollen data.

    7 day forecast for Birsay Bay

    Today (28 December 2025)
    Time
    09:00
    10:00
    11:00
    12:00
    13:00
    14:00
    15:00
    16:00
    17:00
    18:00
    19:00
    20:00
    21:00
    22:00
    23:00
    Weather symbols Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast
    Chance of precipitation
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    10%
    10%
    Temperature
    Feels like temperature (°C)
    Wind direction and speed
    WNW
    5
    NW
    6
    NW
    7
    WNW
    8
    WNW
    9
    NW
    9
    NW
    10
    NW
    10
    NW
    10
    NW
    11
    NW
    12
    NW
    12
    NW
    12
    NW
    12
    NW
    12
    Wind gust (mph)
    14
    14
    14
    16
    16
    17
    18
    19
    21
    22
    23
    23
    23
    23
    23
    Visibility
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    Humidity
    83%
    82%
    80%
    79%
    78%
    77%
    77%
    77%
    76%
    76%
    76%
    76%
    78%
    78%
    79%
    UV 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - -
    Wind direction and speed
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    9
    10
    10
    10
    11
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    Height of waves offshore (m)
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    Period of waves offshore (s)
    13
    13
    13
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    11
    11
    11
    11
    Direction of waves offshore
    Monday (29 December 2025)
    Time
    00:00
    01:00
    02:00
    03:00
    04:00
    05:00
    06:00
    07:00
    08:00
    09:00
    10:00
    11:00
    12:00
    13:00
    14:00
    15:00
    16:00
    17:00
    18:00
    19:00
    20:00
    21:00
    22:00
    23:00
    Weather symbols Overcast Overcast Light rain Overcast Cloudy Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Sunny intervals Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night
    Chance of precipitation
    20%
    30%
    50%
    40%
    30%
    20%
    10%
    10%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    Temperature (°C)
    Feels like temperature (°C)
    -1°
    -1°
    -1°
    -1°
    -1°
    -1°
    -1°
    -1°
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    NW
    11
    NW
    12
    NNW
    13
    NNW
    13
    N
    13
    N
    13
    N
    13
    NNE
    13
    NNE
    13
    NNE
    12
    NNE
    12
    NNE
    13
    NNE
    13
    NNE
    13
    NNE
    13
    NNE
    13
    NNE
    13
    NNE
    13
    NNE
    12
    NNE
    11
    NNE
    10
    N
    10
    N
    10
    N
    10
    Wind gust (mph)
    23
    24
    25
    24
    25
    26
    27
    26
    25
    24
    25
    25
    24
    25
    25
    25
    25
    25
    24
    23
    22
    21
    21
    19
    Visibility (description)
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    Humidity
    78%
    77%
    82%
    83%
    79%
    77%
    77%
    75%
    73%
    72%
    71%
    68%
    67%
    65%
    65%
    65%
    65%
    64%
    64%
    64%
    65%
    66%
    66%
    66%
    UV - - - - - - - - - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - -
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    11
    12
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    12
    12
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    12
    11
    10
    10
    10
    10
    Height of waves offshore (m)
    1.6
    1.6
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.6
    1.6
    1.5
    1.5
    1.5
    1.5
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.7
    1.7
    Period of waves offshore (s)
    15
    15
    15
    15
    15
    15
    15
    14
    14
    14
    14
    14
    14
    14
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    Direction of waves offshore
    Tuesday (30 December 2025)
    Time
    00:00
    01:00
    02:00
    03:00
    04:00
    05:00
    06:00
    07:00
    08:00
    09:00
    10:00
    11:00
    12:00
    13:00
    14:00
    15:00
    16:00
    17:00
    18:00
    19:00
    20:00
    21:00
    22:00
    23:00
    Weather symbols Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Cloudy Overcast Overcast Overcast Cloudy Overcast Overcast Overcast Cloudy Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast
    Chance of precipitation
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    <5%
    10%
    10%
    10%
    10%
    <5%
    <5%
    10%
    10%
    10%
    20%
    20%
    40%
    40%
    50%
    50%
    Temperature (°C)
    Feels like temperature (°C)
    -1°
    -1°
    -1°
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    N
    9
    N
    9
    NNW
    9
    NNW
    9
    NNW
    10
    NNW
    9
    NNW
    9
    NNW
    10
    NW
    10
    NW
    10
    WNW
    12
    WNW
    14
    WNW
    15
    WNW
    17
    WNW
    18
    WNW
    19
    WNW
    19
    WNW
    19
    WNW
    20
    WNW
    20
    WNW
    20
    WNW
    20
    WNW
    20
    WNW
    20
    Wind gust (mph)
    20
    20
    20
    20
    20
    20
    19
    20
    20
    22
    24
    25
    27
    29
    30
    30
    31
    30
    32
    33
    33
    32
    34
    33
    Visibility (description)
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    Humidity
    66%
    66%
    66%
    66%
    66%
    67%
    68%
    68%
    69%
    68%
    69%
    67%
    66%
    66%
    67%
    68%
    70%
    69%
    73%
    74%
    75%
    76%
    76%
    77%
    UV - - - - - - - - - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - -
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    9
    9
    9
    9
    10
    9
    9
    10
    10
    10
    12
    14
    15
    17
    18
    19
    19
    19
    20
    20
    20
    20
    20
    20
    Height of waves offshore (m)
    1.8
    1.8
    1.9
    1.9
    2.0
    2.0
    2.0
    2.0
    2.0
    2.0
    1.9
    1.9
    1.9
    2.2
    2.2
    2.2
    2.3
    2.3
    2.4
    2.5
    2.6
    2.6
    2.6
    2.6
    Period of waves offshore (s)
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    13
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    Direction of waves offshore
    Wednesday (31 December 2025)
    Time
    00:00
    01:00
    02:00
    03:00
    04:00
    05:00
    06:00
    07:00
    08:00
    09:00
    10:00
    11:00
    12:00
    13:00
    14:00
    15:00
    16:00
    17:00
    18:00
    19:00
    20:00
    21:00
    22:00
    23:00
    Weather symbols Overcast Light rain Light rain Light rain Light rain Overcast Overcast Overcast Overcast Light rain Light shower day Light shower day Light shower day Light shower day Light shower day Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night Partly cloudy night
    Chance of precipitation
    50%
    50%
    60%
    50%
    50%
    50%
    40%
    40%
    40%
    60%
    60%
    60%
    60%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    80%
    80%
    80%
    70%
    60%
    50%
    40%
    50%
    Temperature (°C)
    Feels like temperature (°C)
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    WNW
    19
    WNW
    19
    WNW
    20
    WNW
    19
    WNW
    19
    WNW
    20
    WNW
    21
    WNW
    21
    WNW
    22
    WNW
    23
    W
    24
    W
    25
    W
    26
    W
    27
    W
    29
    WNW
    30
    WNW
    30
    WNW
    30
    WNW
    30
    WNW
    30
    WNW
    29
    NW
    28
    NW
    28
    NW
    28
    Wind gust (mph)
    32
    33
    33
    35
    37
    38
    38
    38
    39
    42
    44
    47
    48
    50
    51
    52
    53
    52
    52
    52
    52
    51
    50
    49
    Visibility (description)
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    Humidity
    79%
    77%
    78%
    80%
    80%
    77%
    75%
    78%
    76%
    76%
    77%
    77%
    76%
    77%
    77%
    81%
    80%
    81%
    82%
    78%
    78%
    76%
    69%
    69%
    UV - - - - - - - - - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - -
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    19
    19
    20
    19
    19
    20
    21
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    29
    30
    30
    30
    30
    30
    29
    28
    28
    28
    Height of waves offshore (m)
    2.5
    2.6
    2.6
    2.5
    2.5
    2.5
    2.5
    2.6
    2.7
    2.7
    2.8
    3.0
    3.1
    3.2
    3.4
    3.5
    3.6
    3.7
    3.8
    4.1
    4.2
    4.2
    4.2
    4.2
    Period of waves offshore (s)
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    7
    7
    8
    8
    8
    8
    9
    9
    9
    9
    9
    10
    10
    10
    10
    Direction of waves offshore
    Thursday (1 January 2026)
    Time
    00:00
    01:00
    02:00
    03:00
    04:00
    05:00
    06:00
    07:00
    08:00
    09:00
    10:00
    11:00
    12:00
    13:00
    14:00
    15:00
    16:00
    17:00
    18:00
    19:00
    20:00
    21:00
    22:00
    23:00
    Weather symbols Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Light shower night Sleet shower night Sleet shower day Sleet shower day Sleet shower day Sleet shower day Sleet shower day Sleet shower day Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night
    Chance of precipitation
    50%
    50%
    60%
    80%
    80%
    80%
    80%
    80%
    80%
    80%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    80%
    80%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    60%
    60%
    60%
    Temperature (°C)
    Feels like temperature (°C)
    -1°
    -1°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -3°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -3°
    -3°
    -3°
    -3°
    -3°
    -3°
    -3°
    -3°
    -3°
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    NW
    27
    NW
    27
    NW
    27
    NW
    26
    NW
    26
    NNW
    26
    NNW
    27
    NNW
    28
    NNW
    28
    NNW
    28
    NNW
    28
    NNW
    27
    NNW
    27
    NNW
    27
    NNW
    27
    NNW
    28
    NNW
    28
    NNW
    28
    NNW
    28
    NNW
    26
    NNW
    25
    NNW
    24
    NNW
    23
    NNW
    22
    Wind gust (mph)
    48
    47
    49
    50
    52
    53
    52
    52
    52
    52
    52
    53
    52
    53
    52
    52
    52
    52
    53
    50
    52
    52
    52
    50
    Visibility (description)
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    Humidity
    68%
    67%
    68%
    76%
    77%
    70%
    73%
    75%
    75%
    74%
    73%
    77%
    71%
    75%
    73%
    71%
    70%
    67%
    68%
    65%
    67%
    64%
    63%
    63%
    UV - - - - - - - - - 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - - - - - - - -
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    27
    27
    27
    26
    26
    26
    27
    28
    28
    28
    28
    27
    27
    27
    27
    28
    28
    28
    28
    26
    25
    24
    23
    22
    Height of waves offshore (m)
    4.2
    4.2
    4.1
    4.0
    4.1
    4.2
    4.4
    4.6
    4.7
    4.8
    4.8
    4.8
    4.7
    4.7
    4.6
    4.6
    4.6
    4.5
    4.5
    4.5
    4.5
    4.6
    4.6
    4.5
    Period of waves offshore (s)
    10
    10
    10
    10
    10
    10
    10
    11
    11
    11
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    12
    Direction of waves offshore
    Friday (2 January 2026)
    Time
    00:00
    03:00
    06:00
    09:00
    12:00
    15:00
    18:00
    21:00
    Weather symbols Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower day Light snow shower day Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night
    Chance of precipitation
    70%
    60%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    70%
    Temperature (°C)
    Feels like temperature (°C)
    -2°
    -3°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    NNW
    21
    NNW
    20
    NNW
    19
    NNW
    20
    NNW
    22
    NNW
    21
    NNW
    19
    NNW
    19
    Wind gust (mph)
    44
    41
    40
    39
    38
    37
    30
    30
    Visibility (description)
    VG
    VG
    G
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    Humidity
    64%
    65%
    65%
    59%
    59%
    63%
    63%
    62%
    UV - - - 1 1 1 - -
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    21
    20
    19
    20
    22
    21
    19
    19
    Height of waves offshore (m)
    4.4
    4.2
    4.0
    3.9
    4.4
    5.0
    5.0
    4.4
    Period of waves offshore (s)
    12
    11
    11
    11
    12
    12
    12
    11
    Direction of waves offshore
    Saturday (3 January 2026)
    Time
    00:00
    03:00
    06:00
    09:00
    12:00
    15:00
    18:00
    21:00
    Weather symbols Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower night Light snow shower day Light snow Light snow shower night Light snow Light snow
    Chance of precipitation
    60%
    60%
    60%
    60%
    60%
    60%
    60%
    50%
    Temperature (°C)
    Feels like temperature (°C)
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    -2°
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    NNW
    18
    NNW
    18
    NNW
    18
    NNW
    17
    NNW
    18
    NNW
    17
    NNW
    16
    NNW
    15
    Wind gust (mph)
    29
    30
    32
    28
    31
    26
    24
    22
    Visibility (description)
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    VG
    Humidity
    66%
    66%
    69%
    69%
    67%
    68%
    72%
    71%
    UV - - - 1 1 1 - -
    Wind direction and speed (mph)
    18
    Height of waves offshore (m)
    3.6
    Period of waves offshore (s)
    11
    Direction of waves offshore

    Tide times

    Sunday 28 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Sunday 28 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Sunday 28 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Sunday 28 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Monday 29 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Monday 29 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Monday 29 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Monday 29 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Tuesday 30 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Tuesday 30 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Tuesday 30 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Tuesday 30 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Wednesday 31 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Wednesday 31 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Wednesday 31 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Wednesday 31 December

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Thursday 1 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Thursday 1 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Thursday 1 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Thursday 1 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Friday 2 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Friday 2 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Friday 2 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Friday 2 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Saturday 3 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Saturday 3 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Saturday 3 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    Tide times

    Saturday 3 January

    Tide times and heights are from Tingwall tidal station which is 10.0 miles away. So times may be different at this beach. What does this mean?

    Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.

    UK video forecast

    Birsay Bay weather map

    View the weather with our interactive map

    Loading map...

    Orkney & Shetland weather forecast

    Headline:

    Dry and mostly cloudy today.

    Today:

    It will be a dry day. There will be a fair amount of cloud around although a few brighter intervals. Northwesterly winds freshening across Shetland later. Maximum temperature 7 °C.

    Tonight:

    A little showery rain will spread southwards this evening and during the first part of the night. Becoming drier later but still with a lot of cloud. Minimum temperature 3 °C.

    Monday:

    Chance of a passing shower in the morning. Otherwise it will be dry and rather cloudy with a brighter intervals. Maximum temperature 5 °C.

    Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:

    Rather cloudy with some showery rain at times, showers may turn wintry by Thursday. Freshening west to northwesterly winds.

    Updated:

    UK long range weather forecast

    More from the Met Office