x


Durness (Balnakeil Bay) Seasonal Surf Averages

Based on the last ten years data for this location this page gives seasonal trends and an idea of what kind of conditions you can expect and when. Of course these are just averages - it's worth reading carefully to understand exactly what they mean and to recognise the kind of variation you could expect on a trip because an average can never tell the whole story. Click on a month below to see more detail.
If you want a past forecast for a specific date range then click here.

Local Photo


Swell Consistency and Wind Overview

Wind Swell Ground Swell
94%
76%

18%

Jan
94%
76%

18%

Feb
86%
57%

29%

Mar
83%
44%

39%

Apr
66%
19%

47%

May
63%
11%

52%

Jun
59%
7%

52%

Jul
61%
9%

52%

Aug
77%
30%

47%

Sep
81%
40%

41%

Oct
88%
58%

30%

Nov
90%
65%

25%

Dec
This graph shows the percentage of days that had a ridable wind swell (7 seconds period or more) or groundswell (10 seconds period or more) of over 3ft. It also shows the dominant wind direction. Not all of these days will neccessarily give great surf, and very short lived wind swells or longer period secondary swells may produce surf not recorded, but it gives a clear idea of the seasonal trend and a rough guide to the chances of scoring something ridable.

Monthly Overview

Jan
Swell
Consistency
94%
Average Swell
Height
13ft
Average Swell
Period
12s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Feb
Swell
Consistency
94%
Average Swell
Height
14ft
Average Swell
Period
12s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Mar
Swell
Consistency
86%
Average Swell
Height
11ft
Average Swell
Period
11s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Apr
Swell
Consistency
83%
Average Swell
Height
9ft
Average Swell
Period
10s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
May
Swell
Consistency
66%
Average Swell
Height
7ft
Average Swell
Period
9s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Jun
Swell
Consistency
63%
Average Swell
Height
6ft
Average Swell
Period
9s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Jul
Swell
Consistency
59%
Average Swell
Height
5ft
Average Swell
Period
9s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Aug
Swell
Consistency
61%
Average Swell
Height
6ft
Average Swell
Period
9s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Sep
Swell
Consistency
77%
Average Swell
Height
8ft
Average Swell
Period
10s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Oct
Swell
Consistency
81%
Average Swell
Height
9ft
Average Swell
Period
10s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Nov
Swell
Consistency
88%
Average Swell
Height
12ft
Average Swell
Period
11s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell
Dec
Swell
Consistency
90%
Average Swell
Height
12ft
Average Swell
Period
11s
Dominant Wind
Dominant Swell

Understanding this Data

These swell averages are calculated ONLY on swells of more than 7 seconds period. This means this is the average height of a swell that's likely to produce ridable surf NOT an average of every wave heading toward the beach in a month. Likewise the period is the average period OVER 7 seconds. There will be days that have short period wind swells that won't produce and ridable swell and these are excluded from the averages. The consistency figure gives the percentage of days that meet this condition.

For example if the consistency is 50% you could expect the 'average' swell for about 15 days in the month. Of course an average tells only part of the story. A combination of very large and very small swells may produce the same average as a consistent medium sized swell.

Monthly Data

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Nearby Spots

Sandwood Bay
Torrisdale
Armadale Bay
Strathy
Melvich
Sandside Bay
Brora Beach
Brimms Ness - The Point
S*** Pipe
Thurso East
Murkle Point
Castlehill to Murkle
Dunnet Bay
Port of Ness
Skara Brae
Skail Bay Right
Marwick
Eoropie
Birsay Bay
Sinclairs Bay - Beach
Keiss
Fisk Helliar
Lossiemouth
Staffin Bay
Bu Sands
Dalbeg
Isle of Lewis
Glenbrittle
Talisker Bay
Sandend (Moray Firth)
Cliff
Mangersta
Boyndie Bay
Scarasta
Banff - Beach
Hosta
Fraserburgh
Arbroath
St Andrews West
Lunan Bay
St Andrews East
St Combs to Inverallochy
Balevullin
The Hough
Stonehaven
The Maze
Balmedie to Newburgh
Aberdeen - Beach
Balephuil
Port Bharrapol (Tiree)
Nigg Bay
Ardnave Bay
Kingsbarns
Cruden Bay
Caravans
Peterhead (Sandford Bay)
Graveyards
Saligo Bay
Westport
Laggan Bay
Islay (Machir Bay)
Machrihanish
Seacliff
Lossit Bay
Dunaverty
Belhaven Bay (Dunbar)
Melby
Pease Bay
Quendale Bay
Coldingham Bay