Thurso Beach Surf Break

Lat Long: 58.60° N 3.52° W

Thurso Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 03 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thurso Beach sea temperature is
13.3° C
0.0° 

Thurso Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Thurso Beach surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 9 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, WNW swell with 2,600 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 1PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. 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 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 7AM.

Wave TypeTime (BST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1PM (Fri 7th Aug)2ft (0.6m) 10s
Best Surf 4AM (Sun 9th Aug)13ft (4.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 7AM (Sun 9th Aug)11ft (3.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break down the 16-day window for Thurso Beach. It’s a classic tale of a slow start and a sharp, short-lived peak.

The first week is totally flat. From Monday the 3rd straight through to the morning of Sunday the 9th, it’s a washout. The swell is tiny, the wind is all over the place, and the rain is relentless. There’s a pulse of 1.6m on Wednesday the 5th, but it’s a short-period, messy NE windswell with a cross-onshore kick, so it’s just lumpy and rain-soaked. The combined energy barely gets into the low hundreds, often sitting under 100 (26-440). Don’t even bother.

Then things get interesting. Sunday the 9th morning sees a big jump – 3.0m (that’s 10 ft) from the WNW with a 10-second period, but the wind is cross-shore and the energy is strong (1831). It’s a marginal call, with questionable tide conditions, so it’s a proper challenge for experts only. The real standout, though, is Monday the 10th.

Monday the 10th is the best day on offer. The morning is clean with a gentle cross-off breeze from the WSW, and the swell is a solid 3.0m (10 ft) from the WNW. The combined energy is strong at 1624. The wave comment says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, and I’d back that. The period is a touch short at 9 seconds, so it’ll be a bit punchy and fast, but the cleanliness makes it a real treat. The afternoon gets a bit gnarly; the swell pushes to 3.5m (12 ft), but the wind swings onshore from the north, and the forecast says it’s too big for this break. So, the morning window is the one.

After that, the week drops off fast. Tuesday the 11th has some small 1.3m (4 ft) surfable waves with clean offshore winds, but it’s very ordinary. The rest of the second week is flat and poor, with virtually no swell and lumpy onshore winds. The energy levels drop to single digits and low double digits. There’s a little blip on Monday the 17th with 1.1m (4 ft) surfable waves, but the conditions are meh, and Tuesday the 18th morning has a clean offshore breeze for some 0.9m (3 ft) waves, but it’s nothing to get excited about.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a full bust. The only window is Monday 10th August, early morning. That’s the one. Set your alarm, get the big board out, and be ready for a solid, clean, powerful swell. The rest is a waiting game.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Wed afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Mon morning, fresh winds from the ESE by Tue afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the W by Sat afternoon).

Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
N
9
1.1
N
9
1
N
8
0.8
N
8
0.7
N
8
1.5
E
5
1.6
NE
6
1.5
NNE
6
1.3
N
6
1.1
N
6
0.8
NNW
6
0.3
W
10
0.4
WNW
10
0.9
W
9
1.4
W
9
1.7
W
9
1.4
W
9
3
W
8
3
WNW
10
2.5
WNW
9
2.1
W
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
230
186
140
86
63
124
167
181
132
97
51
16
31
133
299
421
299
1047
1831
1055
465
Wind (km/h)
15
E
20
SE
25
ESE
35
ESE
35
ESE
35
E
30
NE
30
NNE
20
NNW
25
NW
20
WNW
10
SSW
20
SSW
25
SSW
20
SW
30
W
40
W
30
W
25
WNW
30
WNW
5
SW
Wind State
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
glassy
High Tide
12:20PM4.52m
00:23AM4.81m
12:59PM4.42m
1:04AM4.67m
1:46PM4.29m
1:55AM4.48m
2:44PM4.17m
3:01AM4.28m
3:55PM4.11m
4:23AM4.15m
5:15PM4.16m
5:55AM4.19m
6:32PM4.36m
Low Tide
6:19PM1.78m
6:50AM1.50m
6:59PM1.93m
7:34AM1.68m
7:47PM2.10m
8:27AM1.89m
8:50PM2.27m
9:36AM2.09m
10:15PM2.33m
11:01AM2.17m
11:47PM2.18m
12:22PM2.08m
1:01AM1.85m
cloud
cloud
cloud
mod rain
light rain
mod rain
mod rain
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:05
5:07
5:11
5:13
5:15
5:16
5:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
9:31
9:29
9:27
9:24
9:22
9:20
9:16
 mm
7
2
6
10
9
1
1
3
Temp °C
15
16
13
12
12
12
12
11
12
13
13
12
15
17
14
14
14
13
14
14
13
Feels °C
12
12
9
6
5
6
6
5
7
9
9
11
11
12
10
8
6
6
8
8
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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