Thurso Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Thurso Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a slow start up here. The first week is pretty much a write-off. We’re looking at small, weak swell with a messy cross-onshore wind that’s going to leave the surface choppy and lumpy. The water is sitting at 55.6°, which is about average for the time of year, so nothing weird there. But the surf quality is poor, and the combined energy is weak, sitting in the low hundreds. You’ll be fighting a moderate breeze all day. If you’re desperate for a paddle, the Tuesday morning of the 21st has a bit of height at 5.6ft, but the period is only 6 seconds and it’s lumpy as hell. Not worth the rubber.

The real story starts to build toward the end of the first week. By Friday the 24th, the swell is pumping up. The Friday morning session sees a 8.2ft swell from the WNW with a 9-second period, and the wind swings cross-offshore, cleaning things right up. The energy is strong at 1143. That’s a solid medium-wave energy reading. The afternoon gets bigger, hitting 9.8ft, but at that size it’s getting into expert territory. The wind is still clean, but it’s a strong breeze, so be ready for a battle getting out.

Now, the standout. If you can wait, the Saturday morning of the 25th is the pick of the entire forecast. You’ve got a 9.8ft swell from the WNW with an 11-second period, which is a proper groundswell. That longer period means better-shaped walls and more push. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, making for clean conditions. The combined energy is a massive 1853, which is strong to very strong wave energy. This is excellent surf, but it’s for experienced surfers only. The size and power will be too much for beginners. The crowd situation at Thurso Beach can be “sometimes” busy, so expect a few other keen locals out there.

Sunday the 26th drops right back down to 4.6ft, and the wind goes messy again. After that, the second week is a bit of a mixed bag. There’s a pulse of 6.6ft to 7.5ft swell around the 28th and 29th, but the wind is either cross-shore or cross-offshore, and the energy levels are moderate. The calls are less reliable this far out, but it doesn’t look like anything that’ll beat that Saturday morning.

For the beginners, keep an eye on the Saturday morning of the 1st of August. The swell is only 4.3ft, and it’s glassy with a slight air, so it’ll be super clean. But the energy is low, and it’s just ordinary surfable waves. Not a standout, but a safe option for a learner.

The bottom line: the best waves of this forecast are the Saturday 25th of July, early. Bring your big board and your big cojones.

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