News
An unsettled period on the horizon
Turning unsettled again as we move through the weekend, then, ex-Hurricane Kirk likely reaching northwest Europe from midweek and potentially bringing disrupti…
Read moreBirsay Bay (Orkney Islands) weather
Find a forecast
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.
- Head to a lifeguarded beach; check the RNLI lifeguarded beach tool
- Follow RNLI Float to Live advice if you find yourself struggling in the water
- Know what to do if you get caught in a rip current (RNLI)
- Check the tide times to avoid getting cut off by the tide coming in
- Call 999 and ask for the coastguard in an emergency
- Learn more about staying safe at the beach
Sunny intervals changing to partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Beach safety today
Very large, powerful waves and strong wind
- • very high likelihood of injury in or near the sea
Tide: Next high tide (2.7m) at
Sunrise:
Sunset:
UV
Pollution
No pollen data.
7 day forecast for Birsay Bay
Today (22 December 2024)
| Time |
14:00
|
15:00
|
16:00
|
17:00
|
18:00
|
19:00
|
20:00
|
21:00
|
22:00
|
23:00
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chance of precipitation |
20%
|
10%
|
10%
|
20%
|
20%
|
50%
|
70%
|
80%
|
80%
|
70%
|
| Temperature |
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Feels like temperature (°C) |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Wind direction and speed |
NNW
33
|
NNW
32
|
NNW
31
|
NNW
30
|
NNW
28
|
NNW
27
|
NNW
26
|
NNW
25
|
NNW
23
|
NW
23
|
| Wind gust (mph) |
58
|
56
|
55
|
53
|
52
|
51
|
49
|
49
|
49
|
49
|
| Visibility |
VG
|
VG
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
| Humidity |
72%
|
66%
|
62%
|
58%
|
57%
|
60%
|
62%
|
70%
|
75%
|
77%
|
| UV |
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Wind direction and speed |
33
|
33
|
31
|
30
|
28
|
27
|
26
|
25
|
23
|
23
|
| Height of waves offshore (m) |
6.0
|
6.1
|
6.1
|
6.1
|
6.1
|
6.0
|
5.9
|
5.8
|
5.6
|
5.5
|
| Period of waves offshore (s) |
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
| Direction of waves offshore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday (23 December 2024)
| 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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chance of precipitation |
70%
|
70%
|
60%
|
40%
|
30%
|
20%
|
10%
|
10%
|
10%
|
10%
|
<5%
|
10%
|
40%
|
40%
|
70%
|
90%
|
90%
|
90%
|
90%
|
90%
|
80%
|
80%
|
80%
|
60%
|
| Temperature (°C) |
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
9°
|
10°
|
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
| Feels like temperature (°C) |
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
5°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Wind direction and speed (mph) |
NNW
23
|
NW
22
|
NW
22
|
NW
21
|
NW
19
|
NW
17
|
NW
14
|
NW
12
|
WNW
9
|
WNW
7
|
WSW
7
|
SW
8
|
SW
11
|
SSW
12
|
SSW
13
|
S
14
|
S
16
|
S
16
|
S
16
|
SSW
17
|
SW
19
|
WSW
19
|
WSW
19
|
WSW
19
|
| Wind gust (mph) |
48
|
47
|
44
|
42
|
38
|
35
|
30
|
24
|
21
|
18
|
20
|
25
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
34
|
35
|
35
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
36
|
35
|
34
|
| Visibility (description) |
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
M
|
M
|
M
|
M
|
M
|
P
|
M
|
P
|
M
|
| Humidity |
79%
|
77%
|
72%
|
67%
|
66%
|
65%
|
66%
|
65%
|
69%
|
72%
|
75%
|
75%
|
79%
|
83%
|
86%
|
92%
|
94%
|
96%
|
97%
|
99%
|
100%
|
99%
|
99%
|
99%
|
| UV |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
| Wind direction and speed |
23
|
22
|
22
|
21
|
19
|
17
|
14
|
12
|
9
|
7
|
7
|
8
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
16
|
16
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
18
|
18
|
| Height of waves offshore (m) |
5.4
|
5.2
|
5.1
|
4.9
|
4.8
|
4.6
|
4.4
|
4.2
|
4.0
|
3.8
|
3.6
|
3.5
|
3.4
|
3.2
|
3.1
|
3.0
|
2.8
|
2.7
|
2.6
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.6
|
2.8
|
2.7
|
| Period of waves offshore (s) |
15
|
15
|
15
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
12
|
12
|
| Direction of waves offshore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday (24 December 2024)
| Time |
00:00
|
03:00
|
06:00
|
09:00
|
12:00
|
15:00
|
18:00
|
21:00
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chance of precipitation |
80%
|
80%
|
80%
|
40%
|
20%
|
20%
|
20%
|
30%
|
| Temperature (°C) |
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
12°
|
12°
|
12°
|
12°
|
| Feels like temperature (°C) |
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Wind direction and speed (mph) |
WSW
18
|
SW
18
|
SW
22
|
SW
25
|
SW
26
|
SW
27
|
SW
28
|
SW
30
|
| Wind gust (mph) |
36
|
39
|
44
|
46
|
48
|
50
|
51
|
51
|
| Visibility (description) |
M
|
M
|
VP
|
G
|
VG
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
| Humidity |
99%
|
98%
|
100%
|
99%
|
99%
|
95%
|
93%
|
93%
|
| UV |
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
| Wind direction and speed |
17
|
19
|
23
|
26
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
30
|
| Height of waves offshore (m) |
2.7
|
2.7
|
2.7
|
2.8
|
3.5
|
4.1
|
4.4
|
4.5
|
| Period of waves offshore (s) |
12
|
12
|
11
|
11
|
13
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
| Direction of waves offshore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesday (25 December 2024)
| Time |
00:00
|
03:00
|
06:00
|
09:00
|
12:00
|
15:00
|
18:00
|
21:00
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chance of precipitation |
50%
|
50%
|
30%
|
30%
|
50%
|
70%
|
80%
|
60%
|
| Temperature (°C) |
12°
|
12°
|
12°
|
12°
|
12°
|
11°
|
10°
|
9°
|
| Feels like temperature (°C) |
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| Wind direction and speed (mph) |
SW
28
|
SW
26
|
SW
26
|
SW
26
|
SW
26
|
WSW
22
|
WSW
17
|
WSW
14
|
| Wind gust (mph) |
51
|
49
|
49
|
48
|
50
|
41
|
29
|
29
|
| Visibility (description) |
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
G
|
G
|
| Humidity |
93%
|
92%
|
90%
|
86%
|
86%
|
89%
|
93%
|
93%
|
| UV |
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
| Wind direction and speed |
28
|
26
|
26
|
27
|
27
|
22
|
17
|
14
|
| Height of waves offshore (m) |
4.7
|
4.7
|
4.4
|
4.1
|
4.0
|
4.0
|
3.7
|
3.7
|
| Period of waves offshore (s) |
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
13
|
14
|
14
|
| Direction of waves offshore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday (26 December 2024)
| Time |
00:00
|
03:00
|
06:00
|
09:00
|
12:00
|
15:00
|
18:00
|
21:00
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chance of precipitation |
50%
|
40%
|
40%
|
40%
|
40%
|
50%
|
40%
|
30%
|
| Temperature (°C) |
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
| Feels like temperature (°C) |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
| Wind direction and speed (mph) |
WSW
13
|
WSW
13
|
SW
12
|
SW
12
|
SW
13
|
SSW
13
|
SSW
13
|
SW
12
|
| Wind gust (mph) |
29
|
27
|
25
|
27
|
27
|
29
|
27
|
26
|
| Visibility (description) |
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
E
|
VG
|
| Humidity |
88%
|
83%
|
83%
|
84%
|
85%
|
87%
|
88%
|
89%
|
| UV |
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
| Wind direction and speed |
14
|
14
|
14
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
13
|
12
|
| Height of waves offshore (m) |
3.8
|
4.0
|
4.1
|
4.2
|
4.2
|
4.1
|
4.0
|
3.8
|
| Period of waves offshore (s) |
14
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
| Direction of waves offshore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friday (27 December 2024)
| Time |
00:00
|
03:00
|
06:00
|
09:00
|
12:00
|
15:00
|
18:00
|
21:00
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chance of precipitation |
20%
|
20%
|
20%
|
20%
|
10%
|
20%
|
30%
|
40%
|
| Temperature (°C) |
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
| Feels like temperature (°C) |
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Wind direction and speed (mph) |
SSW
11
|
SSW
11
|
SSW
11
|
S
12
|
SSW
14
|
SSW
14
|
SSW
14
|
SSW
16
|
| Wind gust (mph) |
24
|
24
|
25
|
27
|
27
|
29
|
31
|
34
|
| Visibility (description) |
VG
|
VG
|
G
|
G
|
VG
|
VG
|
VG
|
VG
|
| Humidity |
90%
|
90%
|
90%
|
90%
|
87%
|
86%
|
86%
|
86%
|
| UV |
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
| Wind direction and speed |
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
16
|
| Height of waves offshore (m) |
3.6
|
3.6
|
3.5
|
3.1
|
2.8
|
2.8
|
2.9
|
3.3
|
| Period of waves offshore (s) |
15
|
15
|
15
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
14
|
| Direction of waves offshore |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday (28 December 2024)
| Time |
00:00
|
03:00
|
06:00
|
09:00
|
12:00
|
15:00
|
18:00
|
21:00
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather symbols |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chance of precipitation |
40%
|
40%
|
50%
|
50%
|
50%
|
60%
|
50%
|
60%
|
| Temperature (°C) |
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Feels like temperature (°C) |
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Wind direction and speed (mph) |
SW
17
|
SW
17
|
WSW
18
|
WSW
18
|
WSW
20
|
WSW
21
|
W
22
|
W
22
|
| Wind gust (mph) |
35
|
35
|
36
|
38
|
41
|
41
|
42
|
43
|
| Visibility (description) |
VG
|
VG
|
VG
|
VG
|
VG
|
VG
|
VG
|
VG
|
| Humidity |
86%
|
85%
|
83%
|
83%
|
78%
|
78%
|
78%
|
77%
|
| UV |
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
| Wind direction and speed |
17
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Height of waves offshore (m) |
4.4
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Period of waves offshore (s) |
14
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Direction of waves offshore |
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
–
|
Tooltip header
Tide times
Sunday 22 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 22 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 22 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 22 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 23 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 24 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 24 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 24 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 24 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 25 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 25 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 25 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 25 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 26 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 26 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 26 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 26 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
Friday 27 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
Friday 27 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
Friday 27 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
Friday 27 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
Saturday 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
Saturday 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
Saturday 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
Saturday 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.
Birsay Bay weather map
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WARNING
Flood warnings in force for Scotland
Flood warnings in force for Scotland
Orkney & Shetland weather forecast
Headline:
Very windy with showers.
Today:
Very windy with gale or severe gale north or northwest winds throughout the day. Bright spells and scattered showers but longer periods of rain across Orkney in the morning. Maximum temperature 6 °C.
Tonight:
The gale to severe gale northwest wind in the evening eases fresh to strong overnight. Clear spells and scattered showers in the evening, showers become isolated later. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
Monday:
A dry start to the morning with sunny spells. Cloud and rain spread east across Orkney in the morning and Shetland from late afternoon. Maximum temperature 6 °C.
Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:
Milder from Tuesday into Thursday, mainly cloudy with rain at times, occasionally persistent and heavy Wednesday, becoming drier Shetland Thursday.
Updated: