
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 9s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 12s period, NNW swell with 1,230 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Beach in the next 16 days are 2.2m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let's get into it. We're looking at Thurso Beach for the next sixteen days, and I'll be straight with you—it's a tough stretch.
The first couple of days are a no-go. The water is sitting at a pretty cold 56°, which is just about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
We finally get a tiny window Thursday morning, the 30th of July. The swell drops right down to a knee-high 3 ft from the NNW, with a short period of 8 seconds. What makes this interesting is the wind. Thursday morning we have a light cross-offshore breeze, and then by Thursday afternoon it goes totally glassy. That's clean, smooth water, but the wave energy is weak (130 and 104). It's the quiet before the storm, really. Not a standout, just the only real chance to get wet for a few days.
Then the wind fires up. Friday the 31st through Sunday the 2nd of August sees strong westerly winds gusting up to 30 km/h. The swell bumps up to 6 ft on Sunday morning from the NW, with moderate wave energy in the 400s, but the wind is howling cross or cross-off, so it's going to be a mess—lumpy, choppy, and not worth your time.
Now, if you're an experienced surfer, mark your calendar for Monday the 3rd of August. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the north with an 11-second period, giving us a solid 971 units of energy. That's a real groundswell. The wind is light and blowing onshore from the NNW, and the conditions are described as "marginal," but that kind of energy hitting a beach can be powerful. For a spot like this, a long-period north swell can make it a bit shifty, but the power is there. This is the standout of the whole outlook, but be warned—at 7 ft, it's solid and more suited to those who know what they're doing.
After that burst, it all fades fast. From the 4th of August all the way through to the 10th, it's pretty much flat or tiny, with weak directions and messy winds. There's a little hiccup on the 10th with a glassy afternoon and a 3 ft NW swell, but it's short-period and weak energy (49). A real nothing-burger.
Then the calendar flips. Tuesday the 11th of August tries to kick back to life with 6 ft from the WNW, period around 7 seconds, and energy in the 330s. But that onshore cross-chop and gusty winds just kill it. Wednesday the 12th brings the biggest energy of the later period—624 units from a 6 ft WNW swell at 9 seconds—but again, it's a choppy, cross-onshore mess. Not for a clean ride.
The final days, the 13th and beyond, are all dropping swell and strong cross-onshore winds. It's a write-off.
Honestly, the only day that really gets the heart pumping is Monday the 3rd of August. If you're keen, that's your shot. Everything else is a whole lot of wind and not much wave.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the W by Sat morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat night, calm by Mon night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 12 | N 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | N 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
264 | 98 | 102 | 81 | 85 | 307 | 218 | 200 | 133 | 147 | 380 | 414 | 259 | 1230 | 935 | 586 | 289 | 232 | 151 | 86 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:42PM4.80m | 10:12AM4.53m | 10:14PM4.89m | 10:43AM4.59m | 10:44PM4.94m | 11:14AM4.61m | 11:15PM4.95m | 11:46AM4.59m | 11:48PM4.91m | 12:20PM4.52m | 00:23AM4.81m | 12:59PM4.42m | 1:04AM4.67m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:58AM1.44m | 4:04PM1.69m | 4:30AM1.35m | 4:37PM1.63m | 5:03AM1.31m | 5:10PM1.63m | 5:36AM1.32m | 5:43PM1.68m | 6:12AM1.38m | 6:19PM1.78m | 6:50AM1.50m | 6:59PM1.93m | ||||||||
— | — | 4:58 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | |
— | 9:43 | — | — | 9:40 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:36 | — | — | 9:34 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:29 | |
mm | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | W 10 | — | NNW 8 | NNW 12 | N 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | W 9 | W 9 | N 8 |
264 | 98 | 102 | 81 | 41 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 96 | 147 | 2 | — | 259 | 1230 | 935 | 586 | 289 | 6 | 6 | 86 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | W 8 | W 8 | W 8 | — | — | — | N 11 | W 11 | W 10 | — | — | — | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | — | — | WNW 9 |
55 | 80 | 28 | 18 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 55 | 34 | 7 | 7 | — | — | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 11 | N 8 | SE 5 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 10 | N 10 | — | — | — | W 11 |
5 | 33 | 1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 5 | — | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 8 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | WNW 6 | — | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NW 8 |
— | — | 13 | — | 85 | 307 | 218 | 200 | 133 | 95 | 380 | 414 | 181 | — | — | 16 | — | 232 | 151 | 15 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 413 | 291 | 26 | 1 | 79 | 962 | 413 | 214 | 314 | 1 | 31 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 94 |
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.










