Surf Forecasts:
Thurso Beach surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, W swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, W swell with 977 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 7s period with N 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (BST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Thu 6th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thurso Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the same stretch, but I’ll give it to you in feet and miles per hour.
We’ve got a long dry spell at the start. The first hint of anything surfable is Friday the 7th of August, and it’s tiny. Thurso Beach is the only spot in play. The water is 56°F, which is dead average for this time of year.
Friday morning the 7th: a little 1ft pulse from the WNW, period 9 seconds, with a moderate offshore wind out of the south. It’s clean, but the energy is weak (57). Afternoon: 2ft from the west, still clean, cross-off wind, but still low energy (89). Not a standout.
Saturday the 8th: big jump – 6ft from the west in the morning, cross-off wind, but blowing 25 mph. The energy is moderate (521). Afternoon: 5ft, still cross-off, still clean but with a fresh breeze. Not great conditions.
Sunday the 9th of August is the highlight. Morning: 7ft from the west, period 9 seconds, cross-off wind at 19 mph. Energy is solid (792). Afternoon: 7ft from the west, period 10 seconds, gentle cross-off breeze at 9 mph, energy 859. Clean conditions. This is the biggest, cleanest window. Over 8ft and it’s experts only, but at 7ft and 7ft, it’s still heavy for Thurso Beach. The swell direction is west, not the optimum NW, but it’s a fair exposure. Expect a crowd.
Monday the 10th: 5ft from the NNW, cross-shore wind, lumpy chop. Energy moderate (502), but poor. The rest of the week is tiny or messy. From the 11th to the 16th, it’s mostly below 3ft, with periods of 6 to 9 seconds, and very low energy. Not worth it.
Then on Monday the 17th of August: a weird spike of 5ft from the east, period only 6 seconds, light cross-onshore wind. That’s short-period junk, energy 263. Poor. Tuesday the 18th: 2ft from the west, period 11 seconds – a groundswell, but tiny and cross-shore chop. Energy moderate (186 and 210). Still poor.
So, one window: Sunday the 9th of August. That’s your best bet. For a beginner, 7ft to 7ft is a handful, but for anyone with some experience, it’s the only day worth calling. The rest? I’d be checking the forecast again in a few days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the E on Tue afternoon, light winds from the ENE by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sun afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | N 7 | N 7 | W 9 | W 8 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 61 | 28 | 87 | 285 | 411 | 189 | 55 | 21 | 28 | 417 | 708 | 471 | 977 | 595 | 668 | 564 | 244 | 359 | 351 | 397 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 7:16AM4.39m | 7:36PM4.63m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:26PM1.88m | 1:59AM1.47m | |||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:18 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — |
 | — | 9:29 | — | — | 9:27 | — | — | 9:24 | — | — | 9:22 | — | — | 9:20 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:15 |
mm | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 5 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 5 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | E 6 | W 11 | W 10 | N 7 | W 4 | W 5 | N 7 | W 10 | W 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NW 11 | WNW 9 | NNW 9 | W 8 | NNW 9 | N 9 |
| kJ | 61 | 28 | 87 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 55 | 9 | 28 | 4 | 708 | 471 | 16 | 24 | 33 | 564 | 244 | 88 | 351 | 397 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | W 9 | W 11 | W 10 | ESE 6 | E 6 | W 10 | N 7 | W 9 | N 10 | N 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 | SE 6 | N 8 | NW 11 | SE 6 | SE 6 | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 21 | 28 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 150 | 2 | 1 | 48 | 28 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | W 11 | — | — | W 11 | E 6 | NE 8 | W 10 | N 7 | — | N 11 | N 9 | — | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | SE 6 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 8 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 24 | — | — | — | 1 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 7 | ENE 4 | N 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | WNW 5 | — | SSW 3 | W 8 | — | SSW 4 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | — | W 9 | NNW 9 | NW 9 | — |
| kJ | 136 | 127 | 31 | 285 | 411 | 189 | 20 | — | 4 | 417 | — | 14 | 977 | 595 | 668 | — | 240 | 359 | 118 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 285 | 89 | 1 | 170 | 523 | 313 | 106 | 8 | 0 | 126 | 0 | 0 | 413 | 0 | 458 | 449 | 290 | 191 | 191 | 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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