
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, NNW swell with 287 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with NNW 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Beach in the next 16 days are 1.4m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up for us around here. Let's be honest from the off, it's a bit of a grim stretch ahead.
The pattern for the foreseeable future is pretty settled: not much in the way of proper swell and when there is a bit of height, the wind is going to be making a mess of things. We're looking at a long, quiet run of small surf and poor conditions all the way through until early August.
Through the first week, it's pretty much a write-off. We've got a few pulses of swell, but the wind is all over the shop. Sunday morning the 2nd sees a weak 4ft swell from the WNW, but with a gusty cross-on breeze, it's just choppy junk. That continues through Monday and Tuesday, with clean conditions at times but the swell is tiny, dropping to 3ft or less. The middle of the week is very small and onshore, so don't bother.
The first real whisper of anything decent arrives on Saturday the 8th of August. The morning shows a bit of hope with a glassy offshore wind from the South and a small 3ft swell out of the West. The energy reading is weak, but those offshore conditions will clean it right up. It’s small, only for a beginner or a longboard, but if you're desperate, that's the time. The pattern repeats on Sunday the 9th with another light offshore morning, but the swell has dropped to a tiny 2ft.
Looking further out, the second week doesn't get any better. There's a bump in size around Thursday the 13th with a 5ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is straight onshore and fresh, turning it into a lumpy, messy close-out. The combined energy hits a moderate level, but it’s completely blown out. The following days are back to tiny and mostly clean, but there's just no size. Honestly, if you can wait, wait.
Rusty's bottom line: Don't hold your breath. The only slightly redeeming feature is the clean, but small mornings on the 8th and 9th of August. For everything else, it's best to find something else to do. This stretch is one for kites, not paddles.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the ESE by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | ENE 5 | NE 7 | N 7 | N 5 | NNW 5 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
167 | 171 | 287 | 243 | 186 | 115 | 86 | 63 | 84 | 198 | 128 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 16 | 48 | 117 | 106 | 76 | 53 | 47 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:46AM4.59m | 11:48PM4.91m | 12:20PM4.52m | 00:23AM4.81m | 12:59PM4.42m | 1:04AM4.67m | 1:46PM4.29m | 1:55AM4.48m | 2:44PM4.17m | 3:01AM4.28m | 3:55PM4.11m | 4:23AM4.15m | 5:15PM4.16m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:43PM1.68m | 6:12AM1.38m | 6:19PM1.78m | 6:50AM1.50m | 6:59PM1.93m | 7:34AM1.68m | 7:47PM2.10m | 8:27AM1.89m | 8:50PM2.27m | 9:36AM2.09m | 10:15PM2.33m | 11:01AM2.17m | 11:47PM2.18m | ||||||||
5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:34 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:20 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 11 | E 6 | E 6 | W 10 | W 10 | NNW 6 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 |
167 | 171 | 287 | 243 | 186 | 115 | 86 | 63 | 40 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 10 | 48 | 117 | 106 | 76 | 53 | 47 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 10 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | W 10 | N 7 | N 10 | NNE 9 | N 9 | NNE 8 | NE 8 |
144 | 102 | 55 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 8 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 8 | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | — | W 10 | E 6 | NE 6 | NE 9 | ENE 10 | NE 9 | NE 8 | — | N 9 | N 8 |
— | 2 | — | 7 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | 9 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | SE 3 | ESE 4 | E 5 | ENE 5 | NE 7 | N 7 | N 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | E 3 |
— | — | — | 2 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 49 | 84 | 198 | 128 | 35 | 27 | 20 | — | — | 3 | 16 | 33 | 13 | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 28 | 71 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 214 | 41 | 180 | 305 | 291 | 327 | 94 | 191 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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.











