Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period, NNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, NW swell with 341 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 9s period with NNW 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 02) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. 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 1.6m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 03) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 10PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, my fellow wave-hunters, Rusty here, and I've scoured the charts for Thurso Beach. It's not looking like a classic spell. The whole first week is a total bust, with consistently poor surf conditions. We don't really see anything surfable until the 7th of August rolls around, but even then, it's a struggle.
Water temp is about 56°F, which is pretty much what you'd expect for the season.
The first sign of life is on the morning of Saturday, August 7th. There's a light, clean cross-off breeze from the SSE. The swell is a tiny 2ft from the west, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is weak (58). It's rideable, but it's as ordinary as a day can get. You'll be hunting for little bumps.
The pick of the litter, if you can call it that, is the morning of Saturday, August 8th. The wind drops to almost glassy, with a light SE breeze, which is a major win for clean conditions. The swell is a bit heftier at 2ft from the west, with an 8-second period, and weak energy (76). It's a friendly, slow wave for a longboard or a foamie. It's not going to get the heart racing.
Then things get weird. On Saturday, August 14th, the swell absolutely detonates to 10ft out of the WNW with a 10-second period and energy screaming at 1502. That's a lot of power. But the wind is a messy cross-onshore from the NNW at 20 mph, turning it into a choppy, lumpy beast. At that size, over 8ft, it's only for experts, and the wind is a nightmare. Honestly, this is gonna be a kite-foiling session, not a paddle-out.
By Sunday, August 16th the swell drops back to 3ft from the WNW, with a light cross-breeze from the west. It's cleaner, but the energy is still moderate (170).
There's no single day that screams "go." The 8th of August is your only shot for a clean, tiny wave. The 14th is a big, angry, blown-out swell. The rest is a waiting game. It's a tough outlook, but that's the truth.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Thu morning, calm by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | E 6 | E 4 | NNE 5 | N 6 | N 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 92 | 122 | 147 | 341 | 192 | 337 | 238 | 181 | 108 | 61 | 58 | 41 | 18 | 25 | 10 | 30 | 47 | 27 | 42 | 60 | 73 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:14AM4.61m | 11:15PM4.95m | 11:46AM4.59m | 11:48PM4.91m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:10PM1.63m | 5:36AM1.32m | 5:43PM1.68m | 6:12AM1.38m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | |
 | 5:01 | — | — | 5:03 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — |
 | — | — | 9:36 | — | — | 9:34 | — | — | 9:31 | — | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 5 |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 5 | W 10 | W 10 | N 6 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
| kJ | 92 | 122 | 147 | — | 192 | 337 | 238 | 181 | 108 | 61 | 58 | 41 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 27 | 42 | 60 | 73 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | W 10 | WNW 9 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | W 9 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | N 4 | W 10 | N 7 | W 6 | SE 5 | W 10 | NNW 6 | N 6 | NNE 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 16 | — | 130 | 55 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 4 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | — | — | — | NW 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 6 | W 9 | W 9 | NW 7 | NW 6 | W 11 | W 6 | NW 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | E 7 | N 9 |
| kJ | 2 | — | — | — | 16 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 8 | — | — | ESE 2 | SE 4 | SE 3 | ESE 3 | E 7 | E 4 | E 4 | E 6 | E 4 | NNE 5 | N 6 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | — | SE 2 |
| kJ | 60 | 50 | 48 | 341 | — | — | 1 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 12 | 14 | 25 | 9 | 30 | 47 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 818 | 834 | 53 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 9 | 419 | 285 | 255 | 100 | 359 | 783 | 645 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 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.
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