
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 10s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, NNW swell with 1,163 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period with W 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 (Jul 28) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thurso Beach in the next 16 days are 2.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey crew, Rusty here. Let’s break down Thurso Beach over the next couple weeks. I’ll be real—it’s a mixed bag, mostly empty bags.
Sunday the 26th is ugly: a lumpy 7ft NW swell with a 22 mph cross-on wind and combined energy 845 (moderate). Just leave the board in the car. Monday and Tuesday keep the swell around 6ft and 6ft but winds are cross or cross-off, keeping things clean but still poor quality or marginal.
The only flicker of hope in the first week is Wednesday morning the 29th. We get a light offshore breeze from the south at 9 mph, with a clean 3ft N swell, 9-second period, combined energy 270 (weak). It’s tiny but glassy—ideal for beginners or a longboard if you’re not fussy. That’s your window, and it’s small.
After that, it’s tiny and weak with onshore or cross-shore winds. Into the second week there’s a bigger pulse on Sunday the 2nd of August: a 8ft NNW swell hitting Sunday afternoon, 10-second period, combined energy 1239 (strong). But the wind is onshore from the NNW at 6 mph. That’s heavy, messy, and strictly for experts, and the tide might mess with it.
From Monday the 3rd through Monday the 10th, it’s grim. Swell under 5ft, mostly cross-onshore winds, combined energy mostly below 200 (weak). A few clean moments on the 9th and 10th with cross-off winds, but the swell is barely 3ft and period drops to 5 seconds—almost flat.
Best call: Wednesday morning the 29th for a clean, tiny wave with an offshore breeze. The bigger Sunday the 2nd of August swell is powerful but rough. That one’s for kite surfers, not paddle surfers. Keep the stoke alive—forecasts change.
— Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 10 | W 10 | NW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | NNW 9 | WSW 9 | N 9 | N 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | N 8 | WNW 5 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | N 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
845 | 530 | 639 | 586 | 326 | 243 | 266 | 198 | 157 | 130 | 100 | 54 | 42 | 133 | 243 | 228 | 111 | 247 | 163 | 280 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 7:51PM4.32m | 8:24AM4.15m | 8:32PM4.50m | 9:05AM4.29m | 9:09PM4.66m | 9:40AM4.43m | 9:42PM4.80m | 10:12AM4.53m | 10:14PM4.89m | 10:43AM4.59m | 10:44PM4.94m | 11:14AM4.61m | 11:15PM4.95m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:10AM1.96m | 2:18PM2.06m | 2:49AM1.76m | 2:55PM1.92m | 3:24AM1.58m | 3:30PM1.78m | 3:58AM1.44m | 4:04PM1.69m | 4:30AM1.35m | 4:37PM1.63m | 5:03AM1.31m | 5:10PM1.63m | ||||||||
— | — | 4:50 | — | — | 4:52 | — | — | 4:56 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | |
— | 9:50 | — | — | 9:46 | — | — | 9:45 | — | — | 9:43 | — | — | 9:40 | — | — | 9:38 | — | — | 9:36 | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 8 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | — | NNW 7 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 |
— | 439 | 639 | 360 | 295 | 243 | 256 | 198 | 157 | 130 | 100 | 54 | 42 | 28 | — | 228 | 111 | 80 | 61 | 48 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 10 | — | W 10 | W 9 | NNW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | W 8 | NNW 9 | — | E 7 | SE 6 | W 11 | S 5 | — |
— | — | 408 | — | 326 | 176 | 47 | 101 | 113 | 93 | 63 | 44 | 28 | 8 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 4 | W 5 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 5 | SE 5 | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | W 10 | — | W 10 | — | SE 3 | WSW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | NNW 7 | W 5 | W 5 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 |
845 | 530 | — | 586 | — | 3 | 266 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 133 | 243 | 43 | 131 | 247 | 163 | 280 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1114 | 449 | 26 | 141 | 0 | 1 | 413 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 449 | 281 | 134 | 1 | 53 | 53 | 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.










