Thurso Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’re looking at a solid window for Thurso Beach, but it’s not all plain sailing. The next week or so is a mixed bag of onshore slop and raw power, with a couple of proper standouts that’ll have you reaching for your wettie. The good news is the consistency is there, and when the stars align, this place pumps.

Let’s start with the early part. Wednesday and Thursday (9th and 10th September) are pretty ordinary. You’ve got a weak, short-period W swell around 3ft to 4ft, but the wind is mostly cross or cross-off, and the wave energy is low (406 down to 99). The water temp is about average for the time of year. Not worth rushing for.

Friday 11th September gets a bit of a pulse – 7ft W swell, but with a nasty 35 km/h cross-wind and a short period of 7 seconds. The ocean’s going to be lumpy and messy. The afternoon cleans up a touch with a 9-second period, but it’s still marginal.

Now, here’s the first real standout: Saturday 12th September morning. The swell jumps to 12ft from the WNW with a very long 13-second period. The combined swell energy is a whopping 3669 – that’s strong. BUT, this is a beach break, and that long-period groundswell tends to wall up and close out on sand. Plus, it’s too big for beginners and pushing expert-only territory. The wind is a clean cross-off, so the sets will look epic, but only for the experienced crew. The afternoon drops to 10ft, but the wind swings cross-on and it gets choppy.

Sunday 13th September has a glassy afternoon – 6ft WNW swell, 11-second period, zero wind. The wave energy is still strong (1006). This is clean, groomed, and inviting. A solid pick for a fun session.

The middle of the week (15th to 18th) drops off hard. Strong winds and messy cross-shore chop kill the quality. There’s a 3ft glassy window on Thursday 17th morning, but the swell is weak and short. Not worth the paddle.

Now, the second week brings hope. Monday 21st September morning is a beauty. 6ft WNW groundswell, 13-second period, light cross-off breeze, clean. The energy is solid (1139). This is a proper long-period swell that will wrap nicely around the point. The beach might be a bit straight, but it’ll be fun and well-shaped. Crowds can be around sometimes.

And the absolute standout for the whole outlook: Wednesday 23rd September afternoon. The swell is 6ft from the W, period at a lovely 13 seconds, and the wind goes glassy – dead calm. Wave energy is strong (1170). This is the session you wait for. Clean, groomed, with long lines. Thursday 24th morning also looks excellent: 8ft WNW, 11-second period, light offshore, clean. That one’s for the experienced crew only, but it’s a proper session.

So, if you’re picking your moment, the glassy Sunday 13th afternoon is great, but the real standouts are Monday 21st morning and especially Wednesday 23rd afternoon. Get on it.

Rusty.

Read more