
Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 13s period, WNW swell with 5,168 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. 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 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead for Thurso Beach, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The first few days are a write-off with messy, blown-out conditions, so don’t even bother paddling out until the end of the first week. The real action kicks off on the 12th, but you’ll need to be an experienced hand for that one.
The first real shot of surfable energy hits on Thursday morning, the 10th of September. It’s small, with waves around 3.0ft from the west, and the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s not going to be anything special. The wind is offshore, though, which is a huge plus, and the water is about average for this time of year. The combined energy is weak (114), so it’s more of a paddle-out than a proper session.
Then we get a massive pulse on Saturday the 12th. This is a stand-out event, but it’s only for the experts. The swell is a chunky 13.1ft from the west-northwest with a period of 13 seconds, packing a massive punch (combined energy of 4923). The wave state is clean, but the forecast says it’s too big for this break. If you’re not a seasoned pro, stay on the beach because this is a serious amount of water.
After that, things settle down a bit. The morning of Monday the 14th is poor, but the afternoon turns a corner. Light southerly winds, almost glassy, and clean 3.9ft waves from the west. It’s small, but it’s a window to get a few clean ones.
The next true standout is Friday the 18th of September. The afternoon session is the pick of the week. You’re looking at 8.2ft waves from the west, with an 11-second period, and light offshore winds. The combined energy is strong (1542), and the conditions are clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, and with the offshore wind, it will be a dream.
Then Saturday the 19th is another one for the big-wave crew. The morning brings 9.8ft from the west-northwest with a 12-second period, and the combined energy is huge (4138). The wind is light, the waves are clean, but it’s expert territory only.
The very end of the run, on Monday the 21st of September, throws another massive swell our way. 11.5ft from the west-northwest with a very long 16-second period. This is a groundswell of serious size (6998 combined energy). The wind is gentle offshore, but again, it's too big for this break. The period is so long, it might be a bit too straight for the beach break, but for the few who can handle it, it’s a spectacle.
For the average surfer, the best bet is the afternoon of the 18th. It’s the perfect blend of size, clean conditions, and manageable power. The earlier big swells are just too dangerous, and the small stuff is too weak. Keep an eye on the 18th, it’s the one.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, light winds from the WSW by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat night, light winds from the ESE by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NNW 8 | W 9 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 10 | W 7 | W 10 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | NNW 11 | W 9 | W 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2439 | 1710 | 1185 | 310 | 189 | 46 | 86 | 169 | 400 | 266 | 1152 | 5096 | 4915 | 3570 | 1854 | 1436 | 792 | 301 | 214 | 215 | 714 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:23AM4.42m | 7:29PM4.65m | 8:16AM4.69m | 8:17PM4.95m | 9:00AM4.89m | 9:00PM5.19m | 9:38AM5.00m | 9:38PM5.31m | 10:12AM5.01m | 10:14PM5.32m | 10:45AM4.94m | 10:49PM5.21m | 11:16AM4.81m | 11:23PM5.00m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:20PM1.99m | 1:50AM1.36m | 2:08PM1.71m | 2:35AM1.05m | 2:50PM1.49m | 3:16AM0.87m | 3:29PM1.34m | 3:55AM0.82m | 4:05PM1.28m | 4:31AM0.90m | 4:40PM1.32m | 5:06AM1.09m | 5:15PM1.44m | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:37 | — | |
mm | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | WNW 11 | — | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | SE 7 | W 10 | N 11 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | NNW 14 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 11 |
2439 | 1710 | — | 310 | 117 | 41 | 86 | 169 | 7 | 104 | 9 | 5096 | 4915 | 3570 | 1854 | 154 | 792 | 301 | 130 | 215 | 714 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 7 | — | W 10 | NNW 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | SE 7 | N 11 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 9 | NNW 13 | — | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 |
— | 11 | — | 220 | 11 | 34 | 25 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 55 | — | 213 | 254 | 214 | 156 | 91 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 5 | W 8 | W 12 | — | — | N 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 12 | SE 6 | SE 6 | W 14 | — |
— | — | — | — | 1 | 46 | 3 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 2 | 1 | 16 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | N 4 | NW 10 | NW 8 | W 9 | SSE 2 | S 4 | SSE 4 | W 10 | W 7 | W 10 | — | S 4 | — | SSE 7 | WNW 11 | — | — | S 3 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 |
86 | 38 | 1185 | 281 | 189 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 400 | 266 | 1152 | — | 14 | — | 29 | 1436 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 774 | 731 | 595 | 281 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 752 | 773 | 346 | 815 | 1 | 198 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 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.










