
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 12s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 14 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 11s period, W swell with 260 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with WNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Thurso Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 13) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Beach in the next 16 days are 1.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 14) 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 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Mon 13th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about what Thurso Beach has got cookin' for us.
First up, the water is sitting at about 55°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so no nasty surprises there.
Right now, and for the next week or so, honestly? It's flat and ugly. We're talking a prolonged lull from now all the way through to the 20th of July with barely a ripple worth paddling for. There are a few knee-high wobblers here and there, but with weak energy readings mostly in the double digits (like 70), and cross-shore winds messing things up, your best bet is to save the wax for later.
The real stand-out is shaping up for the 21st of July – Tuesday morning. That's the one session I've got my eye on. The swell builds to a solid 7ft out of the WNW, carrying some serious grunt with an energy reading of 772. That's serious wave energy. The period is a nice 10 seconds, so it'll have some shape and power. Conditions look clean with a cross-off breeze from the SW. That's clean, lined-up surf for the folks who know what they're doing. Just keep in mind, at 7ft, this is firmly in the intermediate-to-expert zone. Beginners, give this one a miss.
The following days drop off again in quality. The 23rd of July brings another pulse, with 7ft from the NNW, but the wind swings onshore and gets nasty, turning that potential into a choppy, lumpy mess. For the 26th of July we finally get some clean offshore winds from the S, but the swell is a weak 3ft. It'll be surfable and clean, but nothing to write home about.
So there you have it. One standout window on the 21st morning. Everything else is a waiting game. Forecasts can always change though, so keep an eye on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
70 | 43 | 31 | 51 | 47 | 62 | 123 | 242 | 127 | 64 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 25 | 22 | 41 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 7:42PM4.70m | 8:15AM4.66m | 8:36PM4.92m | 9:14AM4.82m | 9:27PM5.10m | 10:07AM4.91m | 10:14PM5.21m | 10:57AM4.92m | 10:59PM5.25m | 11:45AM4.85m | 11:44PM5.19m | 12:31PM4.70m | 00:29AM5.05m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:33PM1.67m | 2:06AM1.53m | 2:27PM1.53m | 2:58AM1.22m | 3:16PM1.44m | 3:47AM0.99m | 4:03PM1.40m | 4:34AM0.87m | 4:47PM1.44m | 5:20AM0.88m | 5:31PM1.54m | 6:05AM1.00m | 6:14PM1.70m | ||||||||
4:24 | — | — | 4:24 | — | — | 4:26 | — | — | 4:28 | — | — | 4:30 | — | — | 4:31 | — | — | 4:33 | — | — | |
— | — | 10:14 | — | — | 10:12 | — | — | 10:10 | — | — | 10:08 | — | — | 10:07 | — | — | 10:06 | — | — | 10:05 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | W 11 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 | WNW 14 |
70 | 43 | 31 | 51 | 47 | 62 | 123 | 242 | 127 | 64 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 25 | 22 | 41 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | NNW 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 7 | W 14 | W 12 | — | W 18 | E 6 | — | — | — | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | WNW 10 | N 7 | E 6 | E 5 |
1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 106 | — | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | W 21 | — | NE 6 | W 19 | — | W 18 | W 18 | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 6 | W 12 | N 8 | — | N 7 | N 7 |
— | — | — | 9 | — | 2 | 7 | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | — | 1 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 6 | E 5 | — | ESE 2 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 4 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 | 23 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 51 | 165 | 0 | 177 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 165 | 183 | 375 | 375 | 375 | 375 | 375 | 375 | 646 | 191 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Scotland - North Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Thurso Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Thurso Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Thurso Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Thurso Beach 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 (Thurso Beach) 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 Thurso Beach 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 Thurso Beach, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Scotland - North Coast, consider staying in Scrabster which is 2 km (1 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 31 km (19 miles) away, Kirkwall and Lossiemouth.










