Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 8 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, NW swell with 1,182 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me take a look at what we’ve got for the next couple of weeks. I’ll be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The only break on the cards is Thurso Beach, and it’s not exactly firing.
Right from the start, the first week is a write-off. From Saturday the 8th through to the next Friday, the surf is small, messy, or blown out. We’ve got moderate wave energy, but the wind is wrong – mostly cross-off or cross-onshore with a fresh breeze. Swell heights bump up to around 8 ft at times, but the quality is poor. There’s one little window on Thursday morning the 13th where the wind drops to glassy and the water temp is about average for this time of year at 56°, but the swell is only 2 ft with a period around 11 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, so it might wrap in with some shape, but it’s tiny. Still, that’s the only morning that even looks surfable, and the combined swell energy is weak. Not a standout.
After that, we hit a real gap. From Thursday afternoon the 13th all the way through to Friday the 21st, there’s hardly anything worth paddling out for. Swell drops to under 3 ft, periods get short, and winds are all over the place – cross, cross-on, even onshore. The wave comment keeps saying “poor surf conditions.” There’s a morning on Tuesday the 18th with 2 ft swell and glassy conditions, but the energy is basically flat. It’s a long, empty run.
The only glimmer comes on Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd, but it’s far off. Swell picks up to around 3 ft from the west, periods around 10 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to moderate levels. But the wind is still cross-onshore or cross, with a moderate to fresh breeze. It’s not clean. The optimum direction for Thurso Beach is NW, and we’re getting W and WNW swells, so it’s not matching up perfectly.
Honestly? This is a blank stretch. Thurso Beach is fairly consistent, but the conditions just won’t line up. For the next 16 days, I’d say save the wax and check back later – the long-range stuff on the 22nd and 23rd is promising but uncertain. Sometimes you get a run like this, and it’s just the way it goes.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Sun morning, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed night. Warm (max 22°C on Wed morning, min 10°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | W 12 | W 11 | W 7 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 4 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 588 | 963 | 587 | 979 | 783 | 1083 | 1127 | 766 | 322 | 137 | 82 | 28 | 25 | 83 | 34 | 88 | 168 | 50 | 52 | 36 | 34 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 5:15PM4.16m | 5:55AM4.19m | 6:32PM4.36m | 7:16AM4.39m | 7:36PM4.63m | 8:20AM4.63m | 8:30PM4.91m | 9:12AM4.84m | 9:16PM5.15m | 9:57AM4.97m | 9:59PM5.31m | 10:39AM4.99m | 10:40PM5.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:01AM2.17m | 11:47PM2.18m | 12:22PM2.08m | 1:01AM1.85m | 1:26PM1.88m | 1:59AM1.47m | 2:19PM1.67m | 2:49AM1.13m | 3:05PM1.49m | 3:34AM0.89m | 3:48PM1.37m | 4:17AM0.79m | 4:28PM1.34m | ||||||||
 | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | |
 | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 | — | — | 9:12 | — | — | 9:09 | — | — | 9:07 | — | — | 9:05 |
mm | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 10 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 10 | W 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | S 6 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | W 11 | W 7 | W 11 | W 10 | W 6 | W 6 | N 9 | N 8 |
| kJ | 20 | 963 | 28 | 26 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 322 | 137 | 82 | 28 | 16 | 83 | 34 | 88 | 168 | 41 | 52 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | NNW 9 | SE 7 | N 9 | N 8 | — | — | — | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 12 | N 7 | W 10 | W 6 | N 11 | W 10 | N 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 29 | 2 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 28 | 16 | 8 | 8 | 25 | 15 | 30 | 27 | 58 | 50 | 27 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | ESE 5 | N 8 | N 12 | SE 7 | N 10 | W 10 | SE 5 | SE 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 23 | 2 | 31 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | — | — | SE 3 | SE 4 | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | 588 | — | 587 | 979 | 783 | 1083 | 1127 | 766 | — | — | 3 | 11 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 34 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 413 | 422 | 413 | 346 | 165 | 422 | 290 | 191 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 1101 | 654 |
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.
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