Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period, W swell with 457 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s 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 (Aug 19) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. 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 1.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 1.0m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, folks, Rusty here again, this time in feet and miles. Let’s break down what’s coming.
Honestly, the next week and a half is a bit of a dud. From now through to about the 24th of August, it’s mostly small, weak, and choppy with onshore or cross-shore winds putting the brakes on. There’s nothing worth rushing out for.
Things start to perk up towards the end of the month. The first real standout window is Tuesday the 25th of August. The water temperature here is sitting at 57°F, which is pretty much average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there. The morning at Thurso Beach is the one to pencil in. We’ve got a clean 4 ft swell coming from the west, with a light offshore breeze out of the south-southwest. The combined swell energy is moderate at 289, and with a period of 9 seconds, those waves will have some decent shape. That offshore wind is a big plus, giving you clean, lined-up waves that are good for everyone from beginners to regulars. This is the session to aim for.
Later that afternoon and into Wednesday the 26th, the swell drops a little but the offshore winds hang around. It’s still surfable, but not the same quality as that Tuesday morning window.
Looking further out, Saturday the 29th of August shows a hint of something bigger. The morning brings a 6 ft swell from the north-northwest, with light winds and a clean look. The energy is strong at 416, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it might be a bit lumpy and lack that deeper groundswell feel. Still, worth keeping an eye on.
For the rest of the second week, the wind picks up and the consistency fades. Nothing else really jumps out as a must-surf day.
So, wrap it up like this: if you can make it on Tuesday the 25th of August, that’s your best bet for clean, fun waves. The rest? Mostly waiting and watching.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Mon night, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | N 7 | W 9 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 38 | 41 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 103 | 387 | 272 | 133 | 134 | 148 | 151 | 126 | 80 | 106 | 87 | 77 | 62 | 34 | 103 | 78 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 12:32PM4.57m | 00:36AM4.83m | 1:10PM4.35m | 1:17AM4.51m | 1:52PM4.13m | 2:06AM4.17m | 2:44PM3.95m | 3:10AM3.88m | 3:54PM3.84m | 4:38AM3.72m | 5:18PM3.86m | 6:14AM3.76m | 6:34PM4.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:23PM1.74m | 6:55AM1.57m | 7:03PM1.99m | 7:36AM1.93m | 7:49PM2.25m | 8:23AM2.27m | 8:51PM2.49m | 9:29AM2.54m | 10:25PM2.60m | 11:03AM2.65m | 00:01AM2.49m | 12:23PM2.55m | 1:05AM2.25m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | | |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | 5:37 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:51 | — | — | 8:49 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:40 | — |
mm | — | — | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | W 4 | W 9 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | N 8 | NE 7 | W 7 | NNE 9 | N 7 | N 6 | NNE 8 | WNW 7 |
| kJ | 38 | 38 | 23 | 22 | 6 | 74 | 387 | 272 | 133 | 71 | 46 | 25 | 13 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 12 | 13 | 78 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 6 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | N 7 | W 12 | N 7 | N 7 | — | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | W 8 | — | W 8 | W 8 | NNE 8 | W 9 | N 6 | NNE 8 |
| kJ | 13 | 41 | 22 | 12 | 17 | 103 | 24 | 1 | — | 14 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | — | 6 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | — | ESE 5 | NNE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | — | NE 7 | W 10 | W 10 | NNE 8 | N 6 | N 5 |
| kJ | 31 | 7 | 3 | — | 9 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 7 | ESE 3 | ESE 5 | — | — | ENE 4 | NNE 7 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | N 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | — |
| kJ | — | 5 | 7 | 39 | — | — | 11 | 53 | 92 | 134 | 148 | 151 | 126 | 80 | 106 | 87 | 77 | 62 | 34 | 103 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 9 | 41 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 73 | 31 | 364 | 357 | 756 | 225 | 191 | 255 | 218 | 218 | 255 | 53 | 71 | 71 | 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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