Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 14 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 16 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s period, NNW swell with 392 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s period with N 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 16) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m 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 1.8m 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles per hour. It’s Rusty, and I’m not gonna sugarcoat it – this is a rough patch for our shores. The whole 16-day forecast is a dud, with nothing but poor surf conditions lined up. That’s a long, quiet spell.
The only break on the map is Thurso Beach. It’s a beginner-friendly spot that breaks fairly consistently and is open to swells from the NW. The water’s sitting at 57°F, which is pretty average for this time of year.
Right now, on Friday the 14th, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the west with a 10-second period. The energy is weak (135), and with a cross-on wind from the WNW at 9 mph, it’s already choppy. It doesn’t get any better later. Saturday the 15th shows a bump to 4ft, but it’s a short-period 6-second wind swell with a fresh cross-shore wind at 19 mph, making it lumpy and messy. The energy is moderate (127), but it’s ugly.
Sunday the 16th is a bit smaller at 3ft, but still cross-shore and choppy, with moderate energy (176). Monday the 17th actually brings a clean window with a cross-offshore wind from the ESE, but the swell is a pathetic 2ft with weak energy (89). Clean, but nothing to ride. Tuesday the 18th morning is dead flat with light wind, but by the afternoon, a 5ft west swell with a long 11-second period arrives, packing moderate energy (484). But the wind is cross-on and choppy, ruining it.
The rest of the week into the second week is the same old story: small to moderate swell, but always with cross-on or onshore winds, often fresh to strong. The 20th of August has a 6ft swell from the NNW, but it’s hammered by a 19 mph cross-on wind, making it lumpy and only for experts. The 25th of August sees a 4ft west swell with a 10-second period and moderate energy (280), but again, cross-on winds at 22 mph trash it. Even the 28th of August has a 2ft swell from the west with a very long 14-second period, but it’s onshore, so it’s unsurfable.
Honestly, there’s not a single standout session in this whole 16-day outlook. Poor wind and small, messy swell mean no quality at all. It’s a frustrating stretch, but that’s how it goes. Keep an eye out, forecasts can flip.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sat morning, calm by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon night, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Tue night, fresh winds from the WNW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 10 | N 10 | W 5 | W 6 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 | W 8 | W 11 | W 11 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 92 | 45 | 44 | 105 | 302 | 195 | 130 | 91 | 55 | 58 | 41 | 30 | 21 | 18 | 160 | 188 | 150 | 323 | 358 | 273 | 218 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:39AM4.99m | 10:40PM5.35m | 11:18AM4.92m | 11:19PM5.28m | 11:55AM4.77m | 11:57PM5.10m | 12:32PM4.57m | 00:36AM4.83m | 1:10PM4.35m | 1:17AM4.51m | 1:52PM4.13m | 2:06AM4.17m | 2:44PM3.95m | 3:10AM3.88m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:28PM1.34m | 4:58AM0.82m | 5:07PM1.40m | 5:37AM0.98m | 5:45PM1.53m | 6:16AM1.25m | 6:23PM1.74m | 6:55AM1.57m | 7:03PM1.99m | 7:36AM1.93m | 7:49PM2.25m | 8:23AM2.27m | 8:51PM2.49m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  | | |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:31 | — | — | 5:33 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:05 | — | — | 9:01 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Temp °C | 17 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | ESE 5 | W 8 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | ENE 7 | W 8 | W 9 | W 8 |
| kJ | 92 | 45 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 195 | 130 | 91 | 55 | 58 | 40 | 30 | 10 | 18 | 160 | 188 | 125 | 5 | 35 | 36 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | SE 5 | — | — | — | N 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | — | — | — | — | NE 6 | NE 7 | W 10 |
| kJ | 43 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 23 | 60 | 36 | 13 | 41 | 23 | 21 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 8 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 6 | — | E 5 | — | — | NW 10 | N 8 | — | W 12 | W 10 | WNW 6 | W 6 | W 8 | ESE 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | 12 | — | 3 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 4 | W 5 | W 6 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | ESE 3 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | — | — | NE 4 | NNE 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 |
| kJ | — | 28 | 44 | 105 | 302 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 32 | — | — | 27 | 180 | 150 | 323 | 358 | 273 | 218 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 71 | 826 | 595 | 1158 | 375 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 8 | 28 | 26 | 600 | 285 | 218 | 313 | 261 | 53 |
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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